Ava nods and follows Marrin up the stairs to find Erran.  As Marrin mentions how tough the fight was, she nods in affirmation, but does nothing else.  Not sure what else to do.  She concentrated on the motion of the boat, trying to not let it get to her again.

When Marrin and Avaria get up on deck, they can see that even in the short time they were below deck, the storm on the horizon has gotten closer. The swells smacking up against the side of the boat have grown as well.

They find Erran Bigge coming down from the quarter deck where he was in conversation with the big hobgoblin. You figured out earlier in the day that she's First Mate Lozredak, and she displays none of the friendliness that Bigge does.

When he spots the two of you, he looks past you to the door way to the lower decks, then frowns, but visibly relaxes as Marrin describes the situation.

He does raise an eyebrow at Marrin and Avaria, almost opening his mouth to ask a question when he takes in their wounds. But then just shakes his head.

"Sounds like you're half way through," Bigge says with a smile. "Now, get rid of them without anyone else noticing and I'll consider it a job well done."

Bigge quickly ushers the two of you back to the stairs down to the lower decks.

As they start heading back down into the hold, Avaria looks at Marrin, "Well... there is that tarp we can wrap the rats in?  Will be interesting to hear what they have to say when the cage is exposed."

Back downstairs in the hold,

"Good idea Ava, everyone grab that tarp over there they were using to hide the little prison and toss them on. I guess Ava and I can haul them up and dump them. Deck is pretty clear since that storm is rolling in so it shouldn't be too hard."

Once the Rous are loaded she asks Avaria,

"You feeling well enough to do this?"

If she receives a positive response she'll enact the plan with the shifter.

Ula helps where she can, being careful not to aggravate the bite on her neck.

"I'm not much for hauling stuff about, I could try to distract folks who might be otherwise spotting what we're up to... or... nevermind.", Janellae finishes awkwardly.

“If you want, I can go first, to check the coast is still clear… … I can hoot like an owl if it’s all clear!…”, offers Ula.

If everyone’s agreeable she can head up.

So now we have to dispose of these rats in secret?  What a strange voyage this has already been.  Ethel considers if any of her spells could prove useful... and decides quickly that they would not.  

Burning Hands inside the hold of a ship would be a recipe for disaster, she thinks with a wry grin.  Though it would put me out of the misery of this seasickness...

While the others follow through on the rat mission, she instead makes her way to the back and holds up her illuminated staff to take a closer look at this 'brig.'  Its been bothering her since she first heard it mentioned.  Fighting her urge to vomit again, she takes a closer look, seeking any evidence to confirm this is nothing more than a makeshift brig... of signs it served some more sinister purpose?  Investigation: 8

"Sounds like a plan.  We'll drag these beasts up the stairs and over the railing.  Ula, if you could check that the coast is clear, that'd be great."  Avaria gets to work on tossing the rat corpses on the tarp, making sure she gets the decapitated head as well.

They finish with rolling the rats overboard... barring any issues.

"Ula dear, you look like you work out much more often than I... are you certain you wouldn't be better at helping carry these things up? They're quite heavy."

Janellae nudges one with the toe of her boot.

"I know he made it seem like it was important that no one notice... but how important is it to us? I have... means... to take care of two, maybe three of them, but it won't be pleasant, and I'd rather not have to do it... but if it gets us tomorrow off, I suppose I could do it... And maybe the four of you could help me with something? We'd only have to sneak two over the rail then, and if Ula and Avaria each take one, I'm sure they'd be able to manage no problem. I'd surely be struggling under the weight of just one of those enough that someone's sure to notice."

While the others decide where to place the rats and who will carry the tarp, Ethlehyn takes a closer look at the cage. It really just looks like a jail - iron bars and a lockable door. She can't say for sure, but the stains on the manacles does look to have a more rust like texture than it does anything else, especially when she looks over at the drying rat blood. All in all she thinks that this is probably a brig. The lock and gate look oiled and maintained but the manacles look old.

Marrin listens to Jan's proposal,

"I'm pretty sure Ava and I can handle lugging them up and tossing them without much effort, especially if Ula is on watch. Let's get this bit of unpleasantness wrapped up then we can, while we take the rest of evening off, chat about whatever help you need?"

Ula answers Janellae, “Oh well of course I could help, or carry something. I just thought Ava and Marrin had it covered. I mean I’d never assume… I wouldn’t want to… I mean… I don’t mind scouting ahead and I don’t mind lifting. I’m easy either way… but… … you say you have another idea? Something unsavoury?… … You don’t have to… If it’s, you know, not nice… We can just get them off overboard… unless you think it’s better to… …”.

”Jan… What’s your idea?…”. You get the impression Ula is fine taking a rat, or scouting, or lifting the tarp, or anything. But she’s not clear on what the alternative is Jan’s suggesting.

"Let's just give it a go then. Shall I run interference?", Janellae says.

Ula goes to check the coast is clear ((and attempts an ‘owl hoot’ back down to the party if it is… Owl performance: 11)).

"What was that? Is Ula choking?"

She shrugs at Avaria and says,

"Either way we probably should head up. On three..."

If everything goes to plan they dispose of the corpses.

Janellae facepalms and moves ahead of the rat draggers, to further distract if Ula's mooing doesn't do the job.

"ha, sounds like the owl got her." Avaria smiles as she grabs the tarp with Marrin and heads up the stairs.

 Marrin snickers at Avaria's comment but keeps quiet otherwise as they move up.

Satisfied that the brig is just a brig, and feeling - perhaps - a little more in control of her stomach, Ethel walks back toward the others and leans on her walking stick, awaiting the results of... whatever it is they are doing with the rat carcasses.