(Woot level 6!   Will post more soon! ) 

“Birdie” reloads the automatic pistol and the revolver and focuses on their handling. (6th level Feat - Firearm Specialist. He’s a veritable gunslinger now!).

Quote from PlotArmored >>

“Birdie” reloads the automatic pistol and the revolver and focuses on their handling. (6th level Feat - Firearm Specialist. He’s a veritable gunslinger now!).

 (ohh boy, dual-wield pistols... this is gonna be fun >:} )

(Well 'now' Robin has water breathing So got the fighting under water issue solved moving forward.)
"Glad to see you all took care of that, sorry for my tardiness." Robin says with a smile for the group. "Where do you want to go now to check this place out?"

Gianna munches on dried slug jerky and shrugs. She's ready to follow along.

(I'm getting the impression that nobody has any strong feelings as to which rooms you explore first. If you do, please let me know.)

After the rest, you peek inside the engine room closet and find it a mess- food, tools, and spare parts lying around. A  quick scrounging of the room reveals 12 rations, 1 GP worth of scrap, and a red amulet hanging on a peg next to the door.

"Ha, I wonder if that amulet allows you to handle the crystal without burning yourself."

If there's no objection, "Birdie" will put on the amulet and carefully and lightly touch the crystal. If it doesn't burn him, he'll remove the amulet and lightly touch the crystal again. (You know, touching a hot stove multiple times is just his thing.)

(Do we still need to pry the cover away to retrieve the crystal, if that is still desirable?)

“I be thinkin we kin claim this ship fer otteria, if we kin figure out how to work er.  But yeah let’s see if ye can pull out that thingy without burnin yer self.  We can then get explorin.”  Cass says, watching with interest.  

(we can just do the rooms stern to stem, no particular order, will listen and search each.) 

Quote from PlotArmored >>

"Ha, I wonder if that amulet allows you to handle the crystal without burning yourself."

If there's no objection, "Birdie" will put on the amulet and carefully and lightly touch the crystal. If it doesn't burn him, he'll remove the amulet and lightly touch the crystal again. (You know, touching a hot stove multiple times is just his thing.)

(Do we still need to pry the cover away to retrieve the crystal, if that is still desirable?)

 The cover is still stuck on, but your theory proves correct. The amulet allows you to tap the orb without burning your finger off.

Quote from Tesservett >>

“I be thinkin we kin claim this ship fer otteria, if we kin figure out how to work er.  But yeah let’s see if ye can pull out that thingy without burnin yer self.  We can then get explorin.”  Cass says, watching with interest.  

(we can just do the rooms stern to stem, no particular order, will listen and search each.) 

 (sounds like a good plan!)

Across the hall from the engine room, you enter what seems to be a small bedroom. There is a one-person bed, a bookshelf, a desk with drawers, a safe, and some various writing utensils strewn about.

“Birdie” will continue to wear the amulet for the time being. If we’re going to search/secure the rest of the ship, no point allowing someone to come in behind us and make off with the crystal. Once we’re in command, he will give it up or hang it back on its hook.

”Cap’ns quarters.” He says more to himself than anyone else. Who else aboard ship would merit their own space?

”Quick search or move on, Cap’n?” “Birdie” asks.

“I’m wonderin whots in that safe.. “ she says with a smile. 
she searches the room and will helP someone open the safe, if they can.

29 perception to search 

Gianna examines the safe for traps.

Investigation 10

If she doesn't find any, she tries to pick the lock.

Sleight of Hand/Thieve's Tools 24

Quote from Tesservett >>

“I’m wonderin whots in that safe.. “ she says with a smile. 
she searches the room and will helP someone open the safe, if they can.

29 perception to search 

 The painting on the wall seems rather... crooked.

Quote from Wysperra >>

Gianna examines the safe for traps.

Investigation 17

If she doesn't find any, she tries to pick the lock.

Sleight of Hand/Thieve's Tools 18

 The safe looks, well, safe. It is a standard, cheaply produced safe, rather easy to crack.

Inside is a money pouch, a small portrait of the officer you killed in the engine room, and a sealed letter.

While the others entered the room, “Birdie” will have taken up a position at the door. Guarding everyone, while they search, from wandering crew wondering what the ruckus was about. He’ll strain to see or hear approaching enemies.

Perception: 26

Quote from PlotArmored >>

While the others entered the room, “Birdie” will have taken up a position at the door. Guarding everyone, while they search, from wandering crew wondering what the ruckus was about. He’ll strain to see or hear approaching enemies.

Perception: 26

You tune your ears to drown out all sounds of machinery. You don't hear a single footstep walking down the hall, but you do hear a faint shuffling coming from a room somewhere on the other side of the vessel.

(siiigh... nat 20)

“Birdie” thinks he might have heard a fish fart outside, but keeps it to himself.

Quote from Great_Axeblade >>

Quote from Tesservett >>

“I’m wonderin whots in that safe.. “ she says with a smile. 
she searches the room and will helP someone open the safe, if they can.

29 perception to search 

 The painting on the wall seems rather... crooked.

Quote from Wysperra >>

Gianna examines the safe for traps.

Investigation 17

If she doesn't find any, she tries to pick the lock.

Sleight of Hand/Thieve's Tools 18

 The safe looks, well, safe. It is a standard, cheaply produced safe, rather easy to crack.

Inside is a money pouch, a small portrait of the officer you killed in the engine room, and a sealed letter.

 Opening the money pouch, you uncover 3 Platinum coins.

The envelope is a plain and white, sealed with red wax. Inside, the letter reads as follows:

Greetings, Cousin.

       You and your detachment has already received its sailing orders from your superiors, but I am writing you to inform you of your mission. I have chosen you for this task because I trust that you will succeed. Relay all relevant information to your crew. At the depot, I have sent a demolition squad with orders to sail with you. As you know, your three ships are to sail inland through the Lamason River until you reach the dam. And, as you are well aware, the system of locks at the dam is the central vein of traffic to the Otteran capital. Destroy it. When you arrive at the dam, you will deploy your chain barrier and stay anchored to the lakebed for exactly two months from your day of departure. This timing is essential. The night marking the end of the second month, you are to send your demolition squad to the surface via the escape pod. They will scale the dam and plant explosives. Upon their return, your deck mage will detonate them from the safety of the ship. The destruction of the dam is crucial to our plan. As the river will become unsailable for perhaps years, This is the last letter you will receive from me for quite a while. The turmoil the dam's destruction will cause will make my duties at the Otteran court much more busy, so I cannot visit, although I eagerly await your arrival there someday as a victorious conqueror. The lives of hundreds of your brethren are at stake here. Do not fail to destroy the dam, at any cost.

May the gods bless your task,

-Baron Wraymore

(I realize very few of the original crew is still sailing with us. For those who have come aboard recently, here is the other letter the party has intercepted so far. https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/102651-assault-on-the-crimson-fleet?page=68#c1346)

(Quick heads up, Robin is sick, so I will be botting her when needed for a few days)

“Birdie” strains to understand the intrigue of the letters but ultimately fails.

”We should keep moving to secure the ship.” He urges.

Robinf rowns as she reads the letter. "Well, best get this to someone who can do something about this Baron guy." She mutters as she glances to the others. "Anyone have anything else they want to do here, or should we check out the rest of this ship?"