Habbi grabs a cloak and takes up a place with the oars.
[b]"Well I can hid in the bow and snipe at any pirated as they get close. Ican just hide under a tarp with the crossbow.
I plan on doing the same with my bow, Peren.
Peren smiles and nods.
"Good...maybe we can end this fight before it can truly begin!"
"Well, we don't know how many are out on that ship. Let's see about boarding undetected first."
Kirian realizes that 6 men left the Ship, but there are only 5 heroes.
"Hmmm... so there's only four of us, and they're expecting 6. I suppose we can either look around and see if we can find some straw or branches to prop up in the boat and cover with cloaks, or ..."
Kirian casts his Minor Illusion cantrip to try to make it look like two men are huddled in the back end of the boat.
"Perhaps we can make it look like they got seasick and they're curled up in back?"
Roll deception, with advantage if using the magic and more than one of you are working on the disguised boat
Kirian looks over at the two dead men with a sour look on his face.
"I suppose we could use them as well, though I find the thought rather distasteful."
"What do the rest of you think? Do we try with magic and sleight of hand, or add extra weight, and possibly shark-fodder to the boat?"
Add the bodies. We need to keep up the ruse as long as possible to increase our ambush success.
"Agreed. Lets place then near the front so I can hide behind them..."
The little halfling helps arrange the bodies so he has a space between them to fire, but is well hidden.
"I suppose they'll make for good improvised shields as well if our cover's blown and we float into a swarm of arrows."
Kirian grabs one of the bodies and drags it to the boat. He looks over at the prisoners.
"Look on the bright side, gents, we could be taking you instead." he quips.
It's dark outside, and the heroes brave the sea to head to the Smuggler's Ship moored off the coast. Kirian has it from the captives that the ship's name is the Sea Ghost. He also knows that the smugglers on board will be watching the coast for a returning longboat. So, the party has a choice...
Approach directly, hoping your deception fools the smugglers on watch into allowing you onto the Ghost.
Approach indirectly, attempting to gain access to the Ghost unseen.
Both paths are possible (and you've rolled for your approach for either) and just require a choice.
Deception:
Advantage:
I suggest we circle around and approach from a different angle and attempt to board. If we are spotted, then we can just claim we got a bit turned around.
"Agreed. We should try to go in quietly."
"Stealthy....that sound like a plan I can get behind. Let's go!"
The Heroes bring the boat around and park it next to the Sea Ghost. The current problem lies in gaining access to the Ghost, climbing the side of the ship seems difficult but doable if someone is deft at climbing, but perhaps climbing the anchor chain would be easier.
Kirian looks up the side of the ship to see if there's a ladder or rope or anything else that can assist with getting onboard.
The rope ladder is on the side that all the pirate smugglers are facing...going that route means you are definitely going to be seen. Climbing is Athletics, but it can be DEX rather than STR if you'd like.
You can swim to the anchor chain and climb it without being seen, at least you think you can (you need a Stealth check and you could take 10)
Kirian casts Mage Hand and has it try to lift the rope up along the side of the boat to see if it's sufficiently light to pull up and loop over a rail. He also carefully looks for a clear view of the rail to guide the hand.
Anyone can climb the side of the boat, its just a difficult climb(DC15) and if you fail by 5 or more you fall. Anyone can also swim to the anchor chain and climb it, you can take 10 to climb the chain and make it (It's DC10) however you need to make a stealth check to remain unseen.
@Habbi and Kirian the mage hand rope trick could work, and lower the climb DC to 5.
"Make it so, Kirian!" Habbi whispers! :)
Since pulling up the rope with Mage Hand seems to work, Kirian carefully uses it to lift the rope up the side of the ship and loop it over a rail and then back down.
"Alright, it should be stable enough to climb. Who wants to go first?"
"I will!", the halfling whispers as he grabs the rope and begins to climb.
Climb (DEX):
Stealth:
Habbi twists the rope until it is taut and holds the end tight so that everyone can climb up easily!
Carric quickly climbs the rope and draws an arrow to his bow.
Peren climbs silently onto the deck, he notices that they are all watching the shore intently. It seems that something is expected, but hasn't happened yet. Peren notices a smuggler in the crows nest on lookout, but he too is watching shore. (You can climb up there if you'd like...)
Kirian follows Peren and Carric up the rope, trying to be as quiet as possible.
Habbi waits until Kirian pulls himself over the rail before climbing up as stealthily as he can.
Sneaking across the deck, Peren climbs to the crows nest. Once there he takes his rapier and stabs at the smuggler.
Climb:
stealth:
"%^&*." Kirian mutters when he hears Habbi clanging below.
He quietly pulls out his his longbow with an arrow, and looks for a shadowy place to take cover for now, hoping that Peren is successful in his climb.