Telemachus' eyebrow went up before he chuckled lightly with Storm, "If you were bearing down on them in a right large warship and had five times the men I think you could ask for their surrender but in a smaller ship with less men," and then he tilted it towards Lenelle, "and women I fear they would laugh at us and pirate our ship."

He remarked wistfully, "It is too bad that the Ananke can't be turned into the smaller dinghy by way of illusion magic to allow all of us to arrive unexpectedly."

Shifting his look over to Wick he nodded his head, "We can discuss those options after dinner and back at the ship.  It is unlikely though if they are sailing that they will realize Eliphas is dead yet since it is such recent news and their wariness will be minimal since he seemed to hire on a diverse set of men as muscle.  We should be able to deliver the goods or take on goods without any real issue and make a judgement call if we can successfully capture the ship or put them out of business...but by then it'll be too late if we haven't smuggled everyone on board or set in motion actions to ensure we can bring full force to bear."

"Well, we can of course try and if they refuse, we can charge in. Say what spells do you guys have? I am certain a trained mob against a rabble will see us routing them. Of course, we need to also see how big their ship is. Anyway, i believe their men may not all be very loyal so i think a fierce frontal assault may work," Storm explains.

To Wick's advice, Storm says," I guess it has merits. Although my tenets probably dont allow me to do that."

OOC: I am assuming a paladin cant do subterfuge but must close and attack GM?

Lenelle laughed in somewhat unusually lighthearted way for her, at Mac's remark, "Aye, can't deny that, it's probably true."   

This was a serious discussion, however.   For herself, she was no sailor, let alone a buccaneer.    And the idea of this made her uneasy.

"I'd far prefer subterfuge, and a well placed sleep spell.   Which is saying something, because Atuan principle doesn't exactly condone such an approach.   But neither does it condone bloodbaths, which is what this beckons to be, if we attack full on, and they meet us in kind."   

---

The group continued their conversation at the Cat and Custard Pot, the time of day making it such that no one else but Aidan was present for the moment.

Wyn's eyes narrowed slightly at the small man's words. ~Is he actually considering becoming a smuggler?~

The elf's concern was quickly laid to rest when Telemachus spoke of loading or unloading smuggled goods as a tactic to allow the rest of the group to board the ship.

~I must have misunderstood him.~ Wyn thought.


"We don't need the Ananke to be there, unless you plan on mounting weapons on her...we just need a way to approach the ship...perhaps Labras could arrange to lend some small boats?

If he is willing to hand over the ship as a reward and provide some men-at-arms, surely two small boats would not be unreasonable?

And if Sir Storm is set on asking for their surrender, perhaps that might be the distraction needed to allow the rest of us to sneak aboard?"

Wick gives Storm a smirk and a nod.  "So, just a question not related to this business.  According to your tenats, are you saying it's better to kill or be killed in a stand up fight then to win a fight with little bloodshed by being sneaky and underhanded?  Just wondering."

Wick has traveled with Storm long enough to respect the man, and his skills, and he truly likes Storm if truth be told.  But in Wick's estimation, the tree that can not bend is doomed to break eventually.

"I'm sorry Wick, but would you mind holding of such questions? I have some spells I want to scribe so I really want us as a group to figure out what we are doing next so there is time for me to do that. If we start hypothetical it might take all day or longer," Westin says.

"I don't think pretending to be smugglers is going to work. There are a few of us, like me, who would be very difficult to disguise. I for one don't think anyone is ever going to believe that Jade and I are hardened criminals and I think at least a few others as well. They are bound to look us over and be ready for anything, even if they haven't heard of Eliphas's death. We might find ourselves in a real pickle!"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 04:17, Thu 04 Nov 2021.

"At least it seems most of us are in agreement that we should see about trying to stop the smuggling," remarked Telemachus, "and Labras mentioned that if we wanted help the two that went with us to round up Eliphas' crew would likely come as well."

Looking to Storm he nodded, "We will figure out a way to let you uphold your tenants my friend."

Tapping the table he slid his mug out, "As Westin and Wyn say we need to know what can be used.  I can crack and warp the wood of the ship...from the rudder so they can't steer to the hull itself causing it to spring leaks.  The sound from that happening might be able to split the crew up to give us better odds.  I also wanted to look for sea weed.  If I can harvest enough to weave together into a loose net of sorts, and keep alive in the water at the coast till we row out to the ship...if someone strong like Storm could throw it onto the deck of the ship and I could animate it in the same way that I did when we fought Cannibal...the loose ends whipping out and grasping the enemy crew."

Storm considers the words of his friends and turns them over in his head. As he thinks through, he consults the divine wisdom that is in him.

"Well, it is for some that the gods grant special favour as a balance to us taking unnecessary risk in the eyes of most. Perhaps that is why members of my order if we do not perish young from our folly, become grandmasters of combat. Yet I am also bound to follow the local lord's instructions to bring the criminals in. I guess the greater good of the people prevail and as long as I do not stab them from the back or kill them in their sleep, my standing should be good," he espouses, looking at each of the member in his eyes as he speaks.

"Yes, a net that can animate will be good. Sounds logical. Anyone else has useful magicks that can work?"

Wick gives Weston a wink, pushing down any annoyance he had at the Elf's cutting the discussion short.  Wick would have liked to have that discussion, but it could be had at another time.

"Damaging their ship has two downsides, it robs us of a ship, at least while repairs are made, and it risks sinking the ship, meaning we lose any cargo it's carrying, although if it's not too deep, I can swim down and salvage stuff, if it's not ruined by being sunk.  The idea of the net sounds interesting, but I don't know how we get it on board.  If it's light enough for Storm to throw it any distance, then it'll have to lightweight enough for them to tear free."

The gnome scratched his head and rubbed his chin and finally let out a long sigh.

“We talk too much around this mission,  too many ifs and ors,  I think we
Should chose another exploration for now”

Wyn looks at the gnome in puzzlement.

"Do you mean leaving the smugglers be and perhaps deal with them another day?"

He looks around the table, "I'll admit that our planning has brought up more questions than answers.

If we do choose to leave it for another day, I would suggest that we still head to the old house and Telemachus can signal the ship to move on, so they will not be suspicious, and will return later on?"

"If they didn't get an answer, the information is that they'll just come back again for a few days," said Telemachus.  "It would be better not to wait, because we don't know that they won't hear the news, and the opportunity will be lost."

"They may be expecting to be boarded from the ones they think are running things at the house," he added.  "So there could be a delay in hostilities."

---

Wyn's eyes continue to move around the table, trying to gauge what his newfound companions were thinking.

"I am with Telemachus. We have a plan that should allow us to gain access to the ship from two fronts. If Telemachus' seaweed nets will immobilise some of those on the deck, we may capture them without bloodshed.

I am no weaver, but I know fishing and rope, I will start working on the nets right away."

"Aye," concurred Lenelle, to this new elf, whom she was beginning to feel more comfortable around, in spite of her initial suspicion.

"And, there is a spell I can cast after Mac's entanglement.   It can immobilize up to four of them, if it works.   For any who might escape the nets." 

"Well, if we are going to do it, let's do it.   We should head out for the old house so we'll be ready,  anyone who wants my armor spell, I'll start now, I already have one on myself.."

"I would really like your armor spell Panatix, if you would be willing to cast it on me," Westin says.

"By the way, I would like a several hours of solitude to transcribe some spells from Eliphas's spell book. Would that be ok?" he asks the group.

Pan casts phantom armor on Westin. "Don't get in any fights before we leave or you'll ruin the spell".

"If your spell is stronger than my leathers, then I will swap...it will make things easier in case I fall in the water too!"

With a sigh, Wick comes to his feet.  "Well, we're not going to accomplish anything sitting around here.  Any got anything they need to do before we head out?"

As the companions made their plans, the two men who had come to assist them before entered the Cat and Custard Pot, ready to give their assistance according to the plans made.

Having made their plans, Telemachus led the group that would be coming from the house--Storm, Michan, Banan, and Panatix to their location, gathering the seaweed for the nets along the way.

Wyn, Wick, Lenelle, and Westin (with Jade) set about finding their best location for being by-passed by the ship coming toward the old house so that they could make their approach, while also being able to see the signals that would come from on high at the old house so that they would know it was time to act.

At last, the night came, and the vessel--near 90 feet long and near 26 feet broad--made its way into the harbor.  There was a large main deck, with upper decks fore and aft.

Telemachus had been up in the room where they had once encountered Ric with the lantern, giving out the answering signal when the ship sent its signal.  Moving quickly downstairs after that, the group leaving from the old house to try to gain entry aboard the ship by being thought smugglers were ready to make their way across to the ship.

Storm does his usual devotion and prepares to face the greatest challenge in his life. For now at least.

As soon as the signal from the house is seen, Wyn starts to row. looking to approach the large ship from the stern if possible, and keeping to the seaward side in any case.

"The other boat will take their time in getting to the ship, as we planned. That should give us time to find a way onto the ship." Wyn whispered to the others, even though they all knew the plan.