What were our foes called? What can we learn about their government, society and customs?
Can we find out once we are safely in harbour instead.
I suppose we are going to be sailing off now?
In their tongue they call themselves the Quannens which seems to translate to “People of the Island of Ivory”. Quannen is large, nearly 28,000 square miles with many natural harbors and deep rivers pouring down from the low mountains and hills of the interior. Quan is the capitol and a good size city that actually encompasses two very good harbors. It is well fortified as are the other 14 coastal and river towns. The Quannen society is evil by your definition but they have never worshipped Sauron or Morgoth and have harried Harad and other evil realms far more often than Gondor. Their worship is an odd mix of ancestor worship and a warrior culture. Death in combat is honorable; death in a spectacular fashion is expected to be rewarded in their afterlife.
Their economy is one of raids, slaves and slave trading and Ivory trade. They are a brutal people but surprisingly treat their slaves fairly well. The children of slaves are given the chance to join the war bands and raiders rather than being sold off the Island to other nations. Those that join the bands are treated by merit and can quickly earn the full rights of a freeman. This has led to a very mixed race of people on the Island.
Their government is feudal in nature. The High King rules over 19 Princes who rules over dozens of Counts that lead both war bands and raiders or are wealthy powerful merchants. The 19 Princes work out to one per town and 2 for the city of Quan and 3 for the vast but sparsely populated interior and handle the bulk of the agriculture and ivory collection. The principle fauna of note on Quannen are the pigmy elephants and large flying reptiles that might well be related to the foul beasts of the Nazgul. These are smaller though. Maybe a light Hobbit could ride one at best.
The fleet sails on to its destination, actually strengthened by the encounter. Gilraen remains on board The Elendil, it is far safer after all. Captain Langdon will give Thoroncir the choice of returning to the Elendil to lead the knights and infantry as the King requested or acting as the Prize Captain of the Gilraen. He at least needs Hraedsig back on board and of course your chief Lt. is not good at command but rather an excellent staff officer.
Thoroncir is glad to learn more about Quannen and its people. He will return to the Elendil to resume his duties, after selecting the most capable of his fellow Sea-knights in the prize crew to command the Gilraen.
Mulligan cannot wait for solid ground to walk on when we do reach our destination.
If Thoroncir knows of any mariners’ remedies for seasickness, he’ll certainly share them with Mulligan. Or perhaps Gilraen or Deor can help?
Gilraen, “I can help, but Mulligan will eventually get better by suffering a bit. My remedies will cure it temporarily but not give her, her sea legs and stomach.”
One of the younger sailors takes Mulligan aside and gives here several tricks for dealing with the moving horizon, the nausea and walking in general on board a rolling ship.
The Captain asks Gil-Gandel to go aloft in the day time, he is anxious to spot a swift messenger boat and is afraid the delay might have caused problems. This be a good time for the birds to go aloft also.
Mulligan: I think I just need to keep my mind off it. Anything to get my appetite back would be a bonus.
Rorimac: I’ll help out aloft if you would would not mind Gil-Gandel, 2 pairs of eyes are surely better than one, although mine may not be as good as yours.
I’ll be glad of the company, Rorimac - and I’m happy to be aloft where I can take in even more of the Sea’s vastness than at deck level.
If it cheers Mulligan at all, I understand that some of the greatest heroes of the sea have been martyr to that particular infirmity, and nothing but the lust for battle could drive it out.
Yes Gil-Gandel, the view is good up there and who knows what we might spy from afar.
Meanwhile the ref awaits Deor and Ghân for verification.
“Naturally! Glad to be of help.” Deor’s eyes momentarily unfocus, as they usually do as he communicates with Folca, and a moment later everyone hears Invisible wings fluttering upward. No one but Deor, though, hears Folca’s grumbling at this heavy salt breeze and sea air with no thermals at all in it!
Ghân follows Thronocir back onto the Elendil and sends Windwing up as a Scout.
He apologises to Mulligan that he has no seasickness remedies, but will try to rustle something up, even if it only dulls the discomfort.
After about45 minutes, Gil-Gandel sights Windwing returning. The sail is sighted and Deor can direct Folca in that direction. The Fleet heads in the direction and Windwing takes a rest near Gil-Gandel.
The Elendil meets the messenger and the Captain has is orders. A large landing on a good beach and the troops are to meet up with a General Haldon who leads 200 Horse and 1800 foot soldiers. This is a campaign to reduce a small but vital port. The landing will be early tomorrow. Make you last minute preparations and apparently the General can use a team to enter the town via stealth after the landing. Can you go in invisible as a group?
Mulligan: Now this sounds more like my kind of thing. But stealth and invisibility do not necessarily go hand in hand, or possibly plate on dwarf. 
Rorimac: I will be happy to lend a hand in scouting out the port. Although it would be useful to know if there is anything specific you want us to find out or do while we are there?
Hraedsig is energized by the thought of riding Windfoot into battle once more. He knows she is itching for dry land and open spaces to run! If he is called upon for an invisible foray into town, he hopes he can ride Windfoot for that, too. Either way, his armor will make a lot of noise, so might as well have the advantage of the horse!
Invisibility won’t help Bitur much in his full plate.
Invisibility plus silence, that would work.
Ghân agrees with Mulligan that our brave Fighters do clank even when Invisible.
The problem with Silence is that they can’t hear us and we can’t hear (or see) them.
Ghân is happy to go in with any sort of party.
If it is stealthy, he could shapechange into a pine martin and perhaps ride on someone’s shoulder (or even peek out of a pack, perhaps?).
DM, if a Scout is successfully hiding in shadows, could Ghân benefit from that by riding on their shoulder?
I’ve never been invisible before, but I am willing to try it. I don’t know that it would quiet me much, though I won’t be as loud as Bitur in his plate armour.
Drat this dwarvish racket 