[h2][center]Geralt of Rivia[/center][/h2]
[center]Eryth Sea [/center]
[center]Lvl 9 (101/90) -> Lvl 9 (103/90) [/center]
[center]Word Count: 1,125 words[/center]

As the Seekers set off, Geralt found rowing the boats to be a rather simple affair. Despite the unnatural agility they possessed, the learning curve to their use was practically non-existent. They seemed to glide over the water, with little regard for minor irregularities in the surface of the water, though they did still move with currents, Geralt noticed. 

It was an eventful ride, for sure. When Sakura attempted to walk on the kelp which had entangled her boat, he sighed and shook his head, though he trusted the flying mage, who he'd noticed had taken a keen interest in the pair of Street Fighters, and the two themselves to make sure Sakura was okay. Unbeknownst to him, Karin was doing just that with a predatory creature that didn't dare approach when stared down by the haughty heiress. As he rode on, Rubick did his thing, pulling Sakura, who was now drenched, along and gave her a speed boost as they rejoined the larger group. 

Geralt had found himself nearly pulled in by a cyclone as they moved through the kelp forest, but a careful application of Aard in the windstorm's direction shot him away from it, Geralt taking a moment to lazily drift along and observe their surroundings. The strange plant islands were quite the sight to behold, and he figured they were even more magnificent below the water, but now was hardly the time for sight-seeing. 

They were continuing along, having managed to (mostly) avoid trouble with the cyclones and water geysers, when disaster nearly struck. A leviathan breached the surface damn near directly under Nadia, then began to float as if it were held aloft by magic, slowly ascending while the Koopa Troop began to open fire on the creature. Geralt, likewise, had summoned the Breaching Bastion underneath himself, being pushed above the water in his noticeably-smaller weapon platform (it appeared that his smaller stature also affected the aquatic weapons platform, which was a shame really). As the troop opened fire, Geralt got in a few shots with the auxiliary cannons, not wanting to risk a close-call friendly fire accident with the main gun. The sea beast was ultimately dispatched in short order thanks to the combined efforts of the troop and Junior's Pokemon companion. 

As it dissolved into ash, Geralt dismissed the Bastion, his boat falling back into the water with a light splash, both unharmed. What a neat trick. 

They continued on, not quite undaunted, but not shaken nearly enough to halt their journey, either. He gave the catgirl a single nod and a commiserating look, having had his fair share of close calls. 

It wasn't long before they came upon another sight, though this was was much less alive than the others: a ship graveyard. "Mmm. Never a good thing when one of these are around." Experience told him that silver would likely be necessary, though whether this place would be even a fraction as infested as a ship graveyard back home would be, he doubted. 

Docking near Nadia, Geralt stepped out of his boat to explore, and took with him a length of rope from a nearby boat, along with more than his fair share of food. He wasted no time in eating a banana, savoring the fleshy fruit, before frowning at the peel. He couldn't very well keep the thing on him, and it felt...almost wrong to simply discard it. Though, given that he was in an actual river and not the streets of Novigrad where the peel would rot in the street, he figured he'd find a spot alongside the river and get rid of it there. 

As Blazermate and Susie were talking to Cortez, Geralt stumbled upon the group, his hand moving to his back before he even realized it. He stopped when he noticed the skeleton pirate was talking to them, and then he heard the pair offer their assistance, with Susie making him proud in refusing to work for free. Blazermate's trade was, of course, fair enough, assuming the pirate was actually capable of assisting them, but something about demanding cold hard cash for one's work was what got Geralt to give the robot girl a nod. "Can't guarantee I'll be much help, but we might be able to talk the Troop into it, assuming they haven't gone ahead already."

As the three left Cortez's ship, he looked at Blazermate and cocked an eyebrow. "So, any plan on how to get this guy out of here? Honestly, not even sure we should, him being a pirate and all." Geralt spoke low, so as not to attract Cortez's attention. "Though he's like as not to get himself killed if he tries anything with the folk from Limsa, against your advice." 

Still, unless they planned to use the Breaching Bastion to lift the ship, and potentially risk destroying it entirely, Geralt knew he wouldn't be much help here. He found a spot away from the others and grabbed a broken but dry-looking piece of wood and lit it with a very weak flame from Igni, holding the lit plank like a candle and helping to dry some of the water on his armor. It didn't do much, especially with the wind still blowing, but it helped a bit to warm his old, cold bones. 

Noticing some of the others moving on, he waved to Blazermate and Susie to indicate he was doing the same. They could come back and fish this guy out when the team was reunited. 

Embarking on his boat once more, Geralt's brow furrowed as they approached the rapids, parking off to the side like Nadia. Magic boats or not, that did [i]not[/i] look like fun. The salmon migration did make for a nice sight, however, and the pair of old friends they found made it even better. Geralt gave the pair a nod, listening in as they described what they were up to. He didn't blame Banjo for wanting to go home. Though he was glad to help the Seekers, his goal was, ultimately, the same: go home and be with his family. He had no doubts that he'd carry on with the Path, but he hardly wanted to leave them to do it. 

He'd find a way. He usually managed to, after all.

Thoughts of the future aside, Geralt left the bears (and one bird) to their devices, getting back into his boat and going own the river, though not without casting Quen on himself to avoid any nasty bruises from high-velocity fish assault. He'd fallen a bit behind the others, but at the end of the rapids it seemed many of them had slowed down to wait for the rest of the group, for which he was thankful. 

[hider=Got Item!] One length of rope (approx 30 feet), four bananas, six chunks of salted pork rations[/hider]