Captain Kargeld I presume? Permission to come aboard?
Assuming he assents.
We are indeed to offer massive violence against any boarders, should measures such as guile fail. He pauses eyeing the captain as he ascends, his assembly of weaponry clanging.
Hmm, it is never wrong to learn, and your people are clearly more able seafarers and shipbuilders then mine, if this fine vesell is any indication. If you or your crew wishes the assistance of a pair of pretty strong hands, all you need is request. I would alas note that I have no naval training.
Ardran comes from a hard place and is used to a hard living, he handles the travels with little difficulty. He appreciates Opals efforts to ingratiate herself, and assists her indirectly by taking attention on him, frequently showing his physical strength when assisting the crew in various things. He is incredibly polite while he does so, but seeks to create a situation in which Kargeld and crew, likely erraneously, see him as the main threat in case of violence.
He does sing and perform at evenings, offering up some Besmaran warsongs he heard from travelers.
Sabbaton Bismark
From the mist, a shape, a ship, is taking form
And the silence of the sea is about to drift into a storm
Sign of power, show of force
Raise the anchor, our flagship's plotting its course
Pride of Besmara, a beast clad in steel
Dread Queen in motion, Queen of the ocean
She was made to rule the waves across the seven seas
To lead the war machine
To rule the waves and lead the Besmarine
The terror of the seas
The Dread Queen and the Besmarine
Two hundred men, all armed with might and shining steel
Set the course for Ishiar to bring Dagons kin to heel
Firepower, our blades strike!
Battle Stations, keep the targets steady in sight.
Into formation, the hunt has begun
Death and damnation, the fleet is coming
She was made to rule the waves across the seven seas
To lead the war machine
To rule the waves and lead the Besmarine
The terror of the seas
The Dread Queen and the Besmarine
Vezura tries to disguise herself as a normal halfling with hat of disguise and hides all her holy symbols associating her with hell.
She does not speak much but listens and observes the team approaching the captain and boarding the ship.
She tries to familiarize herself with the crew, the ship and the cargo if possible.
Isabella will keep in character. Being a bored little girl on ship. She'll fake eating, and wrap her blanket around herself when she pretends to deal with her bodily functions. In between, she tries to stay out of the crew's way while playing games that only make sense in her head.
At night, she feigns sleep but is completely awake. If any sailors try anything funny, they'll find a soft voice over their shoulder, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Aenil is quite personable and talkative with the crew. She has an easy going, chatty, slightly flirtatious way about her that sets any who talk to her at ease. She appears unarmed and unarmored the entire time, doing her best to seemingly not be a threat.
At night, she'll dance for the sailors, or her companions if ship's crew isn't interested.
Captain Kargeld smiles at the thought of his ship not being so heavily laden and slicing through the water with speed. "Not often, but she is the most reliable girl you ever met." The only thing he seems to care about is his ship and he is quite touchy of anyone offering to help or messing with the ship in anyway. He expects you to do your job guarding the ship and to let him and his men do theirs.
His men are simple, keeping to themselves and their tasks. They do not speak any language that any of you recognise. Like the captain they aren't from Talinguarde. This makes them lees than interesting traveling companions and attempts to communicate with them fail. The Captain also seems to be giving them orders to leave you alone as an eye from him whenever you are near sends them on a seemingly random task. All in all, you've likely never been more bored in your life and have only yourselves for company.
It is the morning of the 10th day of your journey. Today you will pass the Watch Wall and truly be in the unclaimed north. You have noticed it already start to get a little cooler.
Unfortunately, a Talinguard patrol ship has spotted you. Luckily you notice with Opal the first to spot it. Kargeld grimly pairs down their options, “She’s seen us, sure as damnation. And there is no way the ‘Frosthamar’ will outrun her loaded like this. One look at our cargo and they’ll know us for exactly what we are – weapon smugglers.”
You have 10 minutes before the patrol ship will catch you. It is smaller, but with a full crew of soldiers, much more heavily armed.
Pinnace class boat, 30ft long. Comfortably fits a dozen or more
Lure a prize crew on the ship? Which they will do anyway? Perhaps you can bluff you way out.
Ardran ask the party as he uses his circlet to appear as a fairly strong looking human entertainer/bodyguard. He also casts heroism upon himself, reasoning that it last 40 minutes, and is not a visible effect while active unlike lets say mirror image.
"Captain, the cargo is piled high in the center. If you level it amidst the ship, keep some of it hidden under the rise of the rail of the closer edge of the ship, it will just look like you have a lot of crates and might not be suspicious. If you take these cargo nets, roll them up, and hang them over the side, it will look as though you have a net ready for fishing. Your crew already looks rough enough to be fishermen."
She wonders what the captain thinks of this plan.
We have plenty of people to hold the ruse, so she gets ready to deal with problems if it doesn't work.
Isabella will find a spot among the cargo where she has good sightlines, but a little cover and lay down. She drops the disguise from her circlet, looking like some discarded toy. Even when she was alive, she knew the knack of holding still enough to appear to be a doll.
She'll make sure that all of the PC's are in her collective for healing and telepathic communication. This should cover the whole ship.
Vezura is still disguised as a normal halfling womain with the hat of disguise and still has hidden all her holy symbols associating her with hell.
"I would agree with Ardran that we should just try to bluff our path out of this. I think that frantic action on the ship will be very suspicious Opal." she says.
I am worried about getting sunk from range, which they are unlikely to do as long as their prize crew is on board. Our odds to prevail are better in a melee then at range. Captain, do you reckon they have Ballistas or other such engines? Also, imagine you could blast fire at them, doing a bit less damage as a hit to the face from my bardiche but fire, 3 times, what are the targets you would hit? Range is just 30 feet sadly
Ardran plots, how to fight this, wracking his brain. He knows others are more capable at bluffing then he is.
Strategy: Splitting the enemies force and fighting parts of them on our terms is good. As such, we should follow their orders and let a price crew board.
Strategy: If I was the Mithrans, I would use ranged weapon in combat. What do we have in terms of counter measures?
Strategy: My own abilities can increase the capabilities of Kargelds men, even though it is unlikely to overcome their lack of numbers and equipment.
Tactics: Get some of them on board, defeat groups in detail while disabling as much of their firepower as I can. Hmm, what else? I could darken things that I touch, but they will still hit.
As the patrol boat gets closer you can see there are no ballista, only 12 men and a captain. The pinnace class ship, only 30 feet long, has no room for such emplacements. The soldiers will have bows as well as their standard longsword and shields.
To answer Vezura, she states, "This ship has a fairly high back end, meaning, that if you angle it so the back is parallel to the boat chasing us, they cannot see who is on board, especially if the crew is ducked down and dragging these crates. I thought it a brilliant idea. We will have cover from direct sight. That means we can be as frantic as we wish moving this cargo to where it needs to go, as long as the Captain can keep us in alignment with the other ship." She looks to Ardran. "And that would be our bluff. That we are fishermen and a traveling family, nothing out of the ordinary. I can work on our fishing credentials as they approach, stating we have the right to be fishing in these waters. If they board us, I will be secretly casting a spell showing ice within any crate they open--ready for fish to be put inside. Then, if things go sour, or if you Captain just want us to kill them all...we can focus that direction."
Aenil nods in agreement with Opal "I believe this our best plan at deceiving them. Allow me to the talking, though be prepared should things go south. Also, if we can, we should try to only let a few of them on board or otherwise limit their numbers."
"What are ye talking about? We're full. There's no place to move em." The Captain says.
The Frosthamar you are on has no space to hide or move cargo. Everywhere is piled up.
"If they board and inspect, they won't believe we are fishermen." he warns as they get the nets ready carefully, trying not to seem hurried.
As soon as the patrol ship gets close enough, the Talirean sailors begin shouting “Heave to in the name of the king!” Kargeld and his men comply, slowing the ship and awaiting the approach.
The captain and four armed sailors board the Frosthamar. "I am Captain Sambryl, who is in charge here?" The captain demands to speak to whoever is charge, looking around suspiciously.
Kargeld looks at Aenil who had claimed to do the talking earlier.
Vezura immediately comes forward.
She looks at the captain with a smile and then suddenly turns to the group.
“I am in charge. May I and my colleagues speak a word with you in private captain please!“ she says and moves closer to the captain while waving the others in the group to move forward so the group is able to speak to him in private.
“Captain, this is a very delicate situation! We are here in a covert mission to the north to investigative the circumstances of several crimes that have been committed angainst our church and our country! I definitely know that you are doing your duty and we respect and appreciate that! But we would very much also appreciate if you do not blow our cover, especially towards the group - we are on the same side of law here!“ the Halfling says with a serious look on her face.
Opal remains sat down by the rear of the boat so as not to be seen as the soldiers approach; even by a telescoping lens. When they call out, almost upon them, Opal will assume the form of Sir Balin of Karfeld sitting on a crate. Her outfit will shift to that of a humble boatsman with a hood. It has the added flavor of Sir Balin's trademark outfit concealed underneath the overcoat, as if it were him hiding his true identity. While he says nothing, Opal-Balin will emulate the thoughts, mannerisms, speech patterns, knowledge, and demeanor of the famed witch-hunter; right down to the sneer of disdain for them interrupting. As the Captain boards the boat, Opal-Balin is distant, as if letting his subordinate handle business.
Orders Sir? Ardran asks Opal-Balin to support the ruse.
"You?" he questions.
"Stay where you are." he says to the others, letting only Vezura come closer and speak. He steps a little away from his men. Their hands are on the swords in the scabbards. The 8 still on board the patrol ship are holding longbows.
"All I hear from goings on in the north is rumours of bugbears massing. They'll never breach the wall though. More likely to end up fighting between themselves instead."
"Very well. An investigation then. Why do you carry so much cargo? What are you carrying in all these crates? I'll need to see something official. Papers, A Seal. Protocol you know." He questions.
As they had prepared beforehand for this inquisitorial route, Opal had prepared the proper paperwork to get them through any checkpoint with no questions asked . Opal-Balin will produce the paper, folded and worn down as if it has been in his pocket for some time. It will have every proper seal and possible treatise to ensure they are not bothered. However, since the Captain has asked what is in the crates, Opal-Balin is unsure if the paper will be enough. Vezura will have to come up with an answer. Opal-Balin hands the paper to Ardran to give to Vezura.
"We're not here for a news update, Captain. And were are not concerned about bugbears. Is this necessary, Captain?" If needed, Opal-Balin will remove the hood, revealing himself; as well as cracking open the outfit to show his hidden outfit underneath.
For however stern/scary Sir Balin naturally is, that is how stern she is at this moment. Would Opal-Balin find fault with the Captain's family after this mission? That could be a thought that crosses this guard's mind. Who knows? However far Sir Balin would take offense on this situation concerning a Captain interfering with catching a deadly witch or pirates using magic, that is how seriously Opal-Balin will respond.
Using the telepathy that they share, she suggests:
"You could just say it is crated old potatoes to look like the ship is weighed down with goods for the taking. That would match to bait in people seeking a prize. If he wants to look, I can secretly cast a minor image spell on it covertly as he looks over the contents of a crate."
Vezura takes the papers from Ardran and Opal and hands it over to the captain.
"Of course! You are only diligent. Here our papers ... "
The moment the captain boards the ship, she reaches out with her inner darkness, and Claims him and one of armed sailors.
She otherwise stays quiet, letting the others do the talking, despite her suggestion that she take the lead.
Captain Sambryl recognises the knights uniform of sir Balin but not the man himself. He stammers. "Of course Sir. These papers seem perfectly in order. I'll have you on your way right away. If you'll please just show me the contents of one of your crates, I'll bypass the usual inspection."
He did not seem to find fault with the papers and moves to inspect the contents of a crate or two. What does he find?
From her hidden point in the cargo, Isabella readies a subtle suggestion. If the inspector looks like he's going to reach into the cargo, I'll give him the suggestion to Note it down and move on.
telepathically, she lets everybody know the plan. ::If he tries to touch the potatoes, I'll try and dissuade him subtly. If he gets past that, we're likely in for a fight.::
As the captain moves to look into the crates, Aenil Claims another two of the armed sailors.
The captain inspects a crate, seeing only potatoes. He nods, seeming satisfied. Then a look of pain crosses his face. He looks around quickly, looking for an attack. "I felt it too sir." One of his soldiers said.
"What's going on here?" Sambryl demands.
They have been fully convinced now of the authentic reality before them, not to mention Sir Balin's strength of witness. Nor did they experience being cursed, but now are bleeding a little and are thinking they are under attack? Because of this, Sir Balin-Opal in a gruff voice asks, "To what are you referring to, Captain? Get your inspection over with! Our cover is at risk, as you know there are eyes upon these waters. Hurry along, I beg of you!" He stands with full height and authority. "Months of planning..." However, a curious look crosses his face as his anger lifts. Confusion then crosses it as he tilts his head to the side, "You are bleeding from your ear there. Are you well, sir? In good health?"
Spotting the bleeding, Aenil gasps audibly. She then backs away slowly from the captain and his crew, covering her mouth and nose with a kerchief. "Oh dear, you haven't brought some sort of plague or disease on board our ship, have you? You haven't by chance experienced a Brykolakas recently?"
"We have been in perfect health for our entire patrol." He wipes away a bit of blood, hand still on his sword, wary.
"It isn't our doing, sir. And the fact your companion over there is bleeding and has not even come over here yet, indicates to me that perhaps you have not shown symptoms until now, when pressures and hearts are elevated for battle. I suggest you seek a healer; for you and your crew, and perhaps enact a self-quarantine." Opal didn't have to express how serious disease was to a sailor. They live it. Now that the captain lingers, even the great Sir Balin begins to raise up his cloak to his mouth, despite being a decent distance from the captain. Opal-Balin looks briefly to the crew to see if they are doing likewise. Only she and Aenil really know what's truly happening.