Drill, drill, drill the boat
Steadily and quiet
"Sir Henrik?" The Captain says, "I am Captain Edward Sambryl of the patrol ship, 'The Blade of St. Martius'. Why is a cargo ship so heavily laden so far north? You understand I must inspect your cargo."
----------
Meanwhile... water has already started entering the ship, though slowly at first, faster now. It won't be long before 'The Blade' is unrecoverable.
The Doctor continues to lazily "read" his book as his mind attempts to recall who "Saint" Martius was. "Henrik" could handle talking to the captain. Mostly what he needed to do was just stall while their companions did their work.
He paused in his page turning, a thought striking him. Hmmm, there's a good chance they will realize what's going on as soon as they notice the leaks that have undoubtedly started. They might even attempt to jump on board to begin a fight. It really is a shame their ship couldn't have been crippled sooner... With a fight most likely in their near future, he stands and places himself in a slightly less casual more more ready position.
"There are troubling rumors, Captain, of creatures stirring north of the Watch Wall. Our cargo is supplies for the fortresses there. It was decided to send them by boat, for it is quicker travel that way. I was sent to ensure the safe delivery of the supplies. Brother Martin and Brother Samuel," at this, Kelvar gestures to Marvin and the Doctor, respectively, "Are accompanying us as well, in order to shore up morale with the word of Mitra."
"The 'creatures' are always stirring; that is no surprise," he replies with a sigh, "If only the King would raise an army and take the whole north for Mitra." He seems to relax a little and the spearmen stand at ease a little less stiffly. "This is highly irregular for a foreign boat to be serving the crown. It might be quicker but you also incur more danger from pirates and those northern savages. You clearly aren't familiar to the dangers you face," and with a sidelong look at Odenkirk and his men, "Perhaps you were not properly advised on the benefits to risks of this journey." It seems Captain Sambryl does not like Odenkirk and his foreign men.
"As it happens, we are scheduled to go to Walls' End ourselves in this patrol run and would happily provide you escort and protection. If you will show me your Manifest and Consignment orders, we will inspect the minimum amount of your cargo that regulation requires and everyone is on their way."
The villains knew however, if Captain Sambryl got close to a single crate, they would see the bugbear fire-axe emblem inscribed on the weapons and armour or Grumblejack, the problem of conjuring up a manifest and consignment orders notwithstanding.
Despite the usual rocking motion courtesy of the water, the Blade of Saint Martius seems slightly lower at the back than the front.
The fist sized hole is letting in enough water to sink the ship in a few more minutes as long as there is no one trying to pump water out too soon. Another minute unnoticed might do it. Unfortunately Rose's spell is about to end.
Talia will slip her face out of the water on the side away from our boat. If things go bad, she wants to take them from behind.
Rose could feel her form starting to slip back to normal. If she surfaced for air it would slow things down a lot, and there was a good chance she would be spotted by some keen eyed Mitran. Talia was stealthier and quicker. She would have to breathe for both of them. She brought Talia close and spoke in in a burble through the water.
"About to change. I need you to bring me breath."
Then she expelled all the water from her gills and shifted back to her natural form. Holding Talia firmly but gently behind the neck, Rose brought their lips together in a kiss that was literally breathtaking. She inhaled hard enough to pull the breath from Talia's lungs. Then she released her, winked, and have her a gentle push toward the surface.
Then she went back to work tearing open the hull of the boat.
Talia will back up her companion's idea and kiss her back. She'll head up to refill her lungs.
Hmmm, it's too bad I have no idea what those manifest and consignment orders look like or I could forge them in the future.
Hoping to delay things further, the Doctor steps forward as he's introduced. "Also heading to Wall's End, you say? What are the chances?" He adjusts his glasses and smiles at the Captain. "Though I must say, 'The Blade of St. Martius' seems a rather odd name for a patrol vessel. Or, I mean, the 'St. Martius' makes perfect sense, but what was the reasoning behind calling it 'The Blade'?"
"The decision to use a foreign boat was made by those who hold higher rank than I. I am sure they had good reason to do so, however. I will get the manifest and consignment together in but a moment."
Kelvar will motion Kargeld to come with him, hoping to stall long enough that Talia and Rose will be able to finish their work. In a low voice, to avoid carrying, Kelvar will say to Kargeld, "Were you given any papers like that, and if not, do you know what they look like?"
"More higher ups than me commissioned this ship. Who am I to question their wisdom of name choice. The Blade cuts where the wielder directs and that is what I and this ship will always do." A very by-the-books man indeed.
Kargeld replies to Kelvar, "Of course I have the consignment and manifest, which won't be incriminating unless they look close enough at where these weapons came from. Which is, of course, outside of Talinguarde. Once they inspect a couple crates however, if they don't find your ogre friend, the fire-axe emblem on the weapons will be proof enough that you aren't who you say you are. Apparent allies to the bugbears will not be treated nicely as you can imagine."
Kargeld gives Kelvar the papers and your word before is enough that the captain doesn't look over them 'too' closely. "Now let us just inspect a sample of your cargo and be on our way to Wall's end."
Before they are able to open any of the crates one of the archers on their ship calls to their captain. "Captain, there's something wrong with the ship. She's taking on water!"
"That's not possible! She passed inspection perfectly before we left dock this morning." His attention is entirely on his ship.
Another man comes up from below to confirm the report. "Water's coming in fast now Captain. We've got a leak. We'll lose her if we don't act fast."
"Then get men down there and start pumping the bilges!" The captain commands and 6 of the archers follow his command and go belowdeck. He turns back to you, "I'm going to have to put this inspection on hold until we save my ship. Please stand by." He and his men, save two, return to their ship. "Grab buckets, grab something!" He talks to his soldiers and looks back over at you.
He has no idea how but he suspects this might have something to do with you.
Lady Rose feels that the gap is just big enough that she might squeeze through now without too much trouble. No one has noticed her or Talia either.
No amount of bilge pumping is going to save this ship now. They will have to abandon it within minutes or somehow find your gap(they're too busy pumping to find the cause) and fix it.
Rose winked at Talia and slipped into the wide crack into the belly of the ship.
Talia stays at the far side of the ship with the side of her head out of the water to listen to what goes on. She is expecting a fight and coming in behind them is likely to create ... opportunities.
"Of course, I understand. We will wait here."
Rose and Talia better get back quickly. Once they're on board, we can sail off and leave them floundering.
The Captain desperately tries to save his ship but it is a futile effort and there is nothing in for him to follow in this situation except to abandon ship.
"Abandon ship!" he calls and directs his men to join the two left on your ship.
"We can't let them on board." Odenkirk says to you.
You notice the men who were trying to save the ship abandon their tasks and hurriedly leave, hearing a muffled shout you can't quite make out. You have free reign of the lower ship.
"No we cannot. Prepare to fight them off."
Kelvar bows his head and utters a short prayer to Asmodeus, as his disguise falls away to reveal his true self, the blessing of Asmodeus flows from him and imbues his allies, to aid them in their battle.
His prayer finished, the priest of the Lord of Darkness looks up and says, "Grumblejack, time to smash blue shirts."
Talia quietly climbs up onto the deck behind them.
Rose smiled as she heard the sailors abandoning ship. She pulled a strange looking key from the charm bracelet around her left wrist. She fitted it into the lock of the captain's cabin, pressed a button on the face and wiggled it a little as the key's spring-loaded teeth locked into the mechanisms.
With a twist it was open. She pressed the button again to retract the teeth and slipped the key away on her bracelet again while she scanned the room. As she saw the large chest next to the captain's desk she couldn't help but grin.
She tied a rope through both the handles and once around the whole thing, then hefted it onto her shoulder and walked through the shoulder high water to the stairs, heading for the top deck.
Kelvar studies Captain Sambryl before uttering a word of Infernal. His axe glowed before he threw it at the Captain.
After the axe struck the captain, it flew back to Kelvar's hand, and the man grinned malevolently.
Talia steps over to take the Captain by surprise. With a well-placed swing, she chops at him. Between the mast and the captain, she has cover from most of the archers.
Marvin muttered a word and his staff lashed out to trip the spearman in front of him.
The Doctor aims too high, his crossbow bolt flying far past the enemy ship. Marvin's staff brings down one of the spearmen. From their skill they seem like fresh recruits. Talia and Kelvar each seriously wound the captain.
Grumblejack throws off the tarp and runs forward with his axe, easily cutting down one of the spearmen.
Kargeld commands his men to fire on the enemy, "Keep those rats off my ship!" Several of their arrows hit their mark. He moves forward himself and cuts through the armour of one trying to board who then falls off to splash into the sea. His blood will attract predators soon.
Sambryl cries out from his wounds and calls for help. Despite his would he is an experienced soldier and reacts to the threat behind him, cutting Talia with his longsword .
One of the spearmen wounds Kargeld and another steps up to Marvin as he gets on board the Frosthammar. The archers let loose, hitting Grumblejack and several of the sailors.
2 Minutes(19 rounds) - Bless(+1 attack and saves vs. fear)
Talia nods at his strike. "Not nearly deep enough, dear Captain," she comments as she strikes back.
"Though not Captain for long."
Leaving Sambryl to Talia, Kelvar steps forward and studies the spearman in front of Marvin before swiping at him with his axe.
"Why didn't we just start with murder?" Marvin grumbles, as he swings his quarterstaff again.
Rushing forward, the Doctor pulls out one of his vials with little red rocks, vigorously shakes it, and tosses it in the middle of the group of enemy sailors. Fire. Water. Seems like a nice combination.
Talia's weapon slides deep, piercing the Captain's heart. He falls with a whisper, "Mitra..."
Marvin and Kelvar strike their man down with the blow of Marvin's staff pushing him back to fall into the water between the vessels with a yell and a splash.
The Doctor throws his vial and it breaks on the target spreading its fire to three nearby. The spearman screams, jumping into the water to try to put out the fire as he dies. The archers also scream in pain and one drops to the deck.
Grumblejack moves clumsily over the cargo to the railing of the Frosthamar and using his great reach splits the archer on the end in two. "This Grumblejack's boat. You not invited. Now I eat you!"
Finding no enemies in front of him and in a great show of strength, Kargeld lifts his greateaxe into the air and slams it into the boarding planks. They break into pieces and fall into the water.
Kargeld's Sailors fire their shortbows again, only one hitting a target, felling another enemy.
The remaining archers have lost all co-ordination and fire haphazardly, all missing their targets. The one at the back end of the ship has the brilliant idea to jump from his sinking ship to yours. He doesn't quite make the jump and is left holding the rails, half his body in the water.
Kelvar let loose a laugh as the remaining archers began scrambling, clearly overwhelmed and panicked. He again spoke a word of Infernal and his axe glowed before flying from his hand and decapitating one who seemed to be preparing to fire at Grumblejack. The axe then returned to his hand.
Seeing that the day is theirs, the Doctor walks slowly over to the man desperately hanging from their ship, casually pulling out a switchblade from his inside coat pocket. Maintaining eye contact with the frantic man, he flips the instrument open and begins trying to cut his fingers off one by one, all the while smiling pleasantly through the screams of pain and pleas for mercy. Whether through pain or a lack of strength of his fingers, the former archer finally releases his grip and begins flailing, the salt creating a burning sensation on all his wounds that in no way helps with the freezing cold water. Catching a glimpse of movement from the corner of his eye, the Doctor's smile widens slightly as he begins to slowly clean and stow his blade.
The man looks back and forth between his sinking ship and that of the demons that had slaughtered his captain and crew, uncertain what would be the best course of action. His mind is made up for him as the first shark claims the lower half of his body with her powerful jaws. The archer's scream is cut short as he's dragged underwater by the massively powerful beast.
"You know, I read somewhere that sharks can smell a drop of blood from three miles out."
Talia advances on an archer. As he sees that all of his comrades are dying, he knows his end is near. The bow slips from his hands as he stands straight and still. His eyes meet hers and he holds his head up to expose his neck. She nods with understanding and makes one quick, accurate stroke. His head comes off, bringing him death quicker than most of his fellows.
She will then bring the captain's body and weapon to our vessel so that his possessions will not be lost to the depths.
Rose sauntered up out of the ship's hold, wet leather hugging luscious curves, her red hair plastered back. She had a sizable footlocker on her shoulder.
She looked around at the carnage, amused.
"What'd I miss?"
"Do me a favor and stab one of those two Mitrans over there in your way back!" Kelvar calls out, laughing mirthlessly at Rose's appearance with the chest.
Rose looks over at the two remaining archers and smiles in an extremely unfriendly fashion. "First one of you to kill the other gets to live."
Hearing Rose's declaration, the Doctor's head snaps towards the other two archers eagerly. He watches them carefully, curious what they would do and hopeful that at least one of them would listen to Lady Rose. Preferably just one of them though. Let it be a surprise for the other.
Marvin moved to whack a few more skulls with his walking stick—and then, seeing that the rest of the party seemed to be genuinely enjoying this, decided to sit down on a nearby crate and let them have their fun.
As the last two soldiers of Talinguarde see their companions falls in different, horrible ways and realise they have lost, Rose utters her horrific bargain. The men, fresh recruits, look at each other. They must have been friends during training because they both offer surrender to the other's blade to save the other. Grumblejack reaches over and saves the two of them the trouble, decapitating the two men in one swing.
"What a waste of time," Kargeld says and commands his men, "Get us moving before anyone else comes along!" The Frosthamar is soon moving again at its not so swift pace.
Nothing the soldiers had was of any value and the Captain didn't have much on him either.
masterwork longsword
dagger
masterwork breastplate
masterwork heavy steel shield
22 gp in a small pouch
Patrol Orders to Wall's End and Back
Wayfinder(1 empty ioun stone slot)
Pouch holding gold wedding band(worth ~100gp)
Spare Uniform
Book of Maritime Law, Acts, Treaties and Regulations
Captain's Commendation and Commission documents
As Lady Rose returns to the Frosthamar, Kelvar takes the chest from Rose and asks, "Well, do you think you can get into it?"
Rose patted Kevlar on the cheek. "I just cracked open a boat."
Then she opened up her strange tool and used the same trick on the chest as she did on the boat's hull.
Rose set the tool to the chest, then stopped. She looked to the captain's body, patted it down, found a key and opened the chest.
She pulled out some books and paperwork, a naval captain's uniform, and then a Wayfinder. "Oh, nice. I always wanted one of these." she said, putting it around her neck and opening it up to see how it worked.
"Not a whole lot else. Just a book we might be able to sell and a ring. Oh, and this nice footlocker." she grinned.
Marvin takes the book of maritime regulations, for light reading along the rest of the trip, as well as a few of the captain's teeth as a souvenir.
The Doctor looks over both the patrol orders and the commendation/commission papers, both to see what they are and in case he ever needs to make their group something similar.
Kelvar takes the uniform and says, "This may prove useful. After all, we may find a need to impersonate an officer."
"Then we sail on. After all, we have such a lovely massacre to arrange. Those northern villages won't know what hit them."