"If we're not back in two days, the ship is yours." Markus said to Sketti, placing a hand on the Dwarf's broad shoulder. He did it respectfully, though he spoke to him in a whisper so as not to worry the crew. The Dwarf chuckled and pushed the younger man, grinning. "If yer not back dawn of the third day, we're goin' in after ye. Now get ye gone, Captain. 'Afore the storm keeps ye on the ship. Savvy?" 

Markus gave a fierce smile and spun, headed to the longboat. As he stepped in, he grabbed the sides to get his bearings and called for the ship to be lowered. Sron held a paddle in his clawed hands. He might be bestial, but Gnolls still had opposable thumbs. Markus grabbed the other one, and as soon as they touched the water, the longboat bucked and swayed in the waves. "You have any magic that can get us to the keep without sinking?" he asked Calliope. But she was already chanting, her voice an echoed whisper in the wind. 

A current began to form in the water, the choppy waves calming slightly as the longboat was slowly pushed outward. Calliope continued her incantation, and Markus wasn't about to ask her to stop so he began to paddle. Sron followed suit, and though the wind sliced through them above the water, causing Grimney to cling to Markus' leg with her little arms, the water remained relatively calm enough to maneuver. 

The spell even led the water sink slightly so as to allow them through the small gap in the rocks, though inside it was pitch black. "Incindranor" Markus exclaimed, running his hand over the blade of his backsword. Where his hand moved, flames erupted and created a torch for them. He quickly handed it to Grimney, who held it with her little hands and did her best to keep it steady as Markus went back to paddling. 

Inside, the walls of the cavern looked fairly smooth, no doubt the waves and currents having carved it themselves through the centuries. "What if this leads nowhere?" Sron grumbled, not liking the idea of drowning inside of a waterlogged tunnel. Grimney waved the flaming sword around threateningly. "I know where it leads! Only a few dozen paces now and we'll get to a small landing. You'll see!" she declared. 

Markus kept quiet, and gazed into the black water as he rowed, hoping beyond hopes that no beasts lurked within this cavern as a lair. He had the feeling of being led into an ambush, though that was impossible. Old mercenary instincts kicking in. They had saved his life in the past, but many times he found he confused them with paranoia. When they turned the bend, they did find a small area to dock in a far wider chamber. There was a stone landing, and a rope ladder hanging limply, leading upwards into what looked to be a trap door.

"I was right..." Grimney said in disbelief, and Markus shot her a look that was both incredulous and appalled. She saw it, and tried to rephrase before he could snap at her. "I-I mean of course I was right!" she cried, holding the sword up triumphantly. Markus wrenched it from her, and he realized Calliope's chanting had faded, the sorceress standing next to him and peering around the room, her eyes faintly glowing as she examined their surroundings with her magesight. 

Markus grabbed a mooring hanger and pulled the longboat to the stone dock, trying them up. The crew hopped out and onto the stone. Behind them in the dark, they could barely see where they had come in. Markus knelt down to fish into his pack, drawing a torch and placing his blade upon the oiled cloth, igniting it and handing it to Calliope. The flame on his blade vanished as if doused. "I'll go up first." he said softly, not wanting the echoes to drift upwards. Grimney huffing, clearly wanting to be the first to go. "I'll call you up when its clear." he said with a grin.

He gave Calliope a wink, and then grabbed the rope ladder, hauling himself up with an impressive speed. He'd climbed more than his fair share of masts the past few years. The rope ladder was very straight forward compared to the web-like rope lines he'd had to traverse before. He placed a small bit of weight on the door, and to his relief it wasn't locked or blocked. He opened it slowly, poking his head in. 

Inside was a dungeon, filled with cages. Skeletons lounged, hands and feet bound in chains. There was a dimlight from a small hole in the wall, filtering in the breeze and light from outside. These men must have starved to death even as they tasted the air of freedom just above them. 

Swiftly, he pushed the door open and pulled himself up quickly, rolling into a standing position and drawing his sword. He was alone, thankfully. The Captain poked his head into the trap door below. "Get up here." 
[@Penny]