Check in on Niki, Bekram, and Vyzia.

Clank! The sound of impact rings like a blacksmithing giant working an ancient forge. Shortly after the thunderous crash, a woman shouts, "Again!" Then another clank. "Again! Another. This repeats over and over until you approach the front deck just before the bow, where you find three figures minding their business--passing time in a way they prefer to do.

Vyzia stands with stoic gaze at those before her--one eye covered by a patch, the other a glistening ruby. She wields her spear firmly in her grasp, not at all flinching at the loud repeating noise of combat. As always, she's without a garment on her body. She stands tall with a chest that could crush one's skull. She does, however, wear a few subtle accessories of a stretching vine, which is something which never snaps even upon transformation. Her long hair rolls back like a waterfall of flames. Her attention is analytical. She doesn't smile, as she never really does, though she seems to be enjoying the presentation.

Bek the dwarf swings his mighty maul vertically down to once more clank against Niki's enchanted shield. Sparks fly, sizzling away upon the damp wooden boards beneath their feet. His attack does little else. Though he is strong, his target doesn't budge. The muscles of Niki's arm flex, as do her legs, though she maintains her supernatural strength and durability enough to take such a blow several times over. On top of that, the shield she holds is an expert work of craftsmanship, bolstered by magic, and it doesn't just radiate a red energy she can use to effect women, but it functions as a mighty bulwark as well.

"Phew. That's enough," says Niki as she lowers her arm back down to her side. "How's it going, Kyle?"

"I'm doing great. What about you all?"

Bek wipes his brow with the back of his sleeve. "You're a role model to all of us warriors, Niki of clan Vakila." His eyes then shift over to you. "And I'm doing great too!"

"Aw shucks," Niki responds.

You make eye contact with Vyzia past them. Perhaps she takes this has an unspoken query, as straight after, she drops the blunt end of her spear the ground to garner attention before speaking up.

"I'm impressed," she says.

"Wow! A compliment from a red dragon. I'll take it," Niki replies.

"I'm merely observing, and speaking of what I see."

Niki leans her shield against the edge of the ship and leans back, sitting partly upon the taffrail. "Well, it's been uh... My journey really felt like a long one, to get here I mean. When I first met Kyle, I was begging for a muffin, because I was kicked out of yet another tavern."

"Another tavern?" you ask.

"D-Don't worry about that part!"

"I do remember. You tricked me into grabbing you a favourite treat of yours, because they wouldn't let you inside anymore."

Bekram unleashes a hearty laugh.

But Niki scowls back at him. "It's not that funny!"

"It is! But I was laughing more because all I could think was, aye that's Niki. That's our warrior. I really do look up to you. Both of you. I mean, I was in a bit of an emotional stupor if you will, before I ran into Kyle over there, all set to crash a noble's ball. I was working job to job as a mercenary, fighting monsters, bandits, but mostly just protecting people who had the coin. Something stirred up within me that day. I can't really explain it. I'm no bard, but I guess what I'm trying to say is joining this family of sorts let me finally let loose. I could do what I always wanted to do."

"And what's that?" you ask.

"Smash stuff with a big ass hammer."

"Be free, you mean."

"Exactly."

As the others speak, Vyzia sits back over the front end of the ship and listens silently.

Niki casts her eyes to the sea. Her skin sparkles with a gentle salty mist coming up from the ocean below. The wind blows through her short, messy hair, and she ponders to herself for a lengthy moment of no others speaking. The only noise comes from the distant murmur of others on the ship, and the crashing of the waves against the hull. Finally, she speaks up again, though in a softer tone than you're used to hearing from her lips. "All I wanted to do was be the strongest, most impressive adventuring hero anyone had ever seen. But because of a stupid mistake, not even my own family could see that dream come true. The Rite of the Sun is a sacred, ancient ritual. Even now, I regret what I did. But I wasn't getting strong enough. Even compared to the other kids, I was kinda weak."

"Maybe of body, but I doubt of mind," you respond as you lean back against the railing beside her. "And you were just a child."

"Anyone who violates the Rite is exiled. So I was on my own for awhile. Though I was developing the strength I always wanted, parties wouldn't keep me for long."

"You are a handful."

She looks to you with a nervous smile. "But you keep me around."

"No matter how strong you've become, the hardest thing you could ever attempt is leaving us. You wouldn't get through me."

"... Kyle, I--"

Once again, Bek laughs. "You might be our shield, but that doesn't mean I'm fragile. Try and get through me too. I dare you!"

"Stop, stop," she says, flailing a hand in front of her flustered face. "All I'm trying to say is that I sacrificed a lot, but even after everything, I lost most of the hope I had before meeting up with everybody here."

You smile back. "And now look at you. Elite class, warrior of an Empire-recognized sovereign, slayer of two Demon Kings, and you were even able to return home after all. Now that's the story of an adventuring hero."

She brushes loose hairs blown just above her eyes by the strengthening breeze. "Well when you put it that way, it does sound pretty impressive."

Bek looks to the dragon. "Hey Vyzia. You got any fun stories to tell? You must have seen much in your years, especially as such a mighty beast. Treasure hoards? Burning villages? Anything like that? Or maybe other dragons you've slain in your wake."

She scowls back at him and shakes her head.

He scratches his beard. "All right. How about this then? How far can you chuck that returning spear of yours?"

She looks down at the weapon, and then to the distance. She steps forward, forcing the dwarf to shuffle back. Then suddenly, she turns heel and aims over the starboard side of the ship. With a sharp breath, she slides a foot back, then arcs the weapon over her shoulder. She takes one loud step, nearly splintering the wood, and then hurls the spear with all of her strength. It pierces the wind, sending off a shock through the sky to such a distance where none can see. Then after that, she looks back to Bekram as if awaiting a reaction.

Bek throws his fists into the air and cheers. "I can't even count how many feet that flew!"

Vyzia nods. Then with a hand in the air, she awaits the weapon's return. A moment passes. Then, it soars all the way back, straight into her hand with a hefty impact. She places a hand upon her chest and bows.