Rohuzar defers to Guilim’s experience. 

The newest Red Band field team seems in high spirits as night falls over Bardstown.  Grugga has completed his six devices, enchanting three of them to cast a small field of light to aid those in the party without darkvision.  Well equipped for tonight’s work, the conversation already drifts toward the next job, and the one after that…. With perhaps a final piece of advice from Rohuzar or Guilim about the task at hand the group sets out for the wharfs and their first true adventure together.

With the sky still glowing faintly in the west, the fool moon is already high and bright in the night sky.  At the basilicae universalis, the bells are ringing.

Religion DC 12 for those curious:

 The weather remains unseasonably warm but a stiff wind is now blowing out of the west and it promises a change in the weather, suggesting it will be a cool and more typical May night before it over.  

Passing back through Umbridge and past the market district in Bardstown proper, the streets are quiet but for the taverns, which are lively as ever.  A few tired looking human men try to hand you flyers as you pass: one advertises a new evening club called the Black Glove Saloon; the other invites to you to witness live boxing at the Turtle King Brewery tomorrow night… just 2cp cover charge if you show them a flyer!

Arriving in the wharfs, there is more activity than you might have expected.  Several barges of timber have arrived and the bright light of the moon is being taken advantage of… several crews are working to hoist the logs up and into warehouses on the top level of the wharfs.  It’s no surprise that many of the dockhands are out off about working such a late night after a long day and there are malcontent grumblings from every corner at you make your way to the Land Shark.  Once there, a woman inside (Beatrice?) shouts that Shaemus is already waiting for you at the entrance to the under pier and she gives you some simple directions.

True enough they are, for you soon spot the old fisherman standing near a wide set of descending wooden steps holding a torch… and a bottle.  Spotting you he grins widely and beckons you follow him down.  After descending perhaps 30 steps you emerge not at the lake, but on a sandy beach, covered by a ceiling of thick timber’s and wooden planks perhaps eight feet above your heads.  The docks are supported by wide wooden columns - some of them full logs- spaced unevenly but more or less 20 to 30 feet apart in both east west and north south lines.  You can hear the water, but it is beyond Shaemus torchlight or the limits of anyone’s darkvision.  As he leads you in the direction of the sound of lapping waves, he informs you he has fulfilled his part of the deal, securing 2 pole boats and setting his traps, the three of which have now been baited and waiting for several hours.  Soon enough you see the boats loom up out of the darkness… one clearly well taken care of and maintained, the other barely seaworthy.  You can see dragmarks leading back to a dense bit of dead bushes and shrubs - Shaemus tells that after Len disappeared, he hid the boat to keep ne’erdowells from making off with it.  The boats are each between 12 and 15 feet long but only 4 feet wide… something not unlike a long canoe, but with a modest keel to keep them upright.  They sit with their bows in the surf, pointed out toward the dark waters of the under pier.  Far to the west, you can see a thin line of orange/pink… the last bit of sunset sky visible under the end of the docks in that direction.  Shaemus also picks up two 8 foot poles and hands them to the group.

”One of yous will need to stand in the middle of each boat and steer.  There’s a bit of a breeze tonight but that shoun’t be a problem down below here.  It’s not hard but then again I been doin it for near forty years.  Just feel for the bottom with the pole and push yerselves along.  Most of the water you be on won’t be more than 2 maybe 3 foot deep.  But the canals will run deeper… you’ll know it when you find one as the sky’ll open up over your head and the bottom’ll disappear on you… the canals are all dredged out to 6 foot.  Don’t worry, I didna set my traps in the deep water.  No need.  Your quarry be keepin to the shallows.”

”I kept it simple for you’ youngins.  You see this here straightaway?”  He points straight out between two rows of pillars, the noses of the boats lined up in that same direction.  “All three of my traps are in a line right along here.  Keep goin straight and you won’t miss my bouys.”

He explains his first trap is about 100 yards out… the next about 50 yards further, and the last another 150 yards further yet.  He prepares to hand you all the poles… insisting first on the gold he was promised for his services.

(Any last questions for Shaemus, or RP to wrap up before we get down to business?)

 Rohuzar pays Shaemus his promised coin, and takes one of the poles to get a boat of three moving. He keeps an eye on the water. 
“Someone keep an eye out for spiders.” 

As the time to leave for the Land Shark nears Aubrey suggests to the others that they leave any equipment not needed for the mission in the town house, maybe in one of the three guest rooms on the top floor, and if anyone doesn´t want to share sleeping quarters he offers to ask Nemo to prepare beds on the ground floor. He then goes to the master bedroom and prepares himself in solitude, checking his crossbow and other equipment several times and finally writing a short note to his father.

Father
I have now joined a mercenary field team part of The Red Band mercenary company. We are lead by an orc named Rohuzar and the members all seem loyal and competent. We are now leaving for our first field mission beneath the docks of Bardstown. We are well prepared and I am confident we will succeed in our mission.
I still hope to make you proud father.
Aubrey

He then joins the others to the Land Shark and after that to the docks. On the way there Aubrey is uncharacteristically silent, seemingly focusing his mind on the task at hand.

Aubrey takes the other pole handed to them and prepares to carefully step onto one of the pole boats. "Awaiting orders Rohuzar." He says checking on his crossbow and the breathing apparatus one final time. Perception when needed:11

Eskil agrees with Aubrey's suggestion, and only brings his armor, shield, sickle and totem item on the mission. On the way, he politely listens to the flyer handers, but doesn't seem too interested in either suggested activity. He does agree to take one flyer for the boxing match and pockets it.

After hearing the ringing of the bells, he comments: "It would have been a feast night for worshippers of Helios. Maybe we can find a tavern offering such a feast on the next full moon night..."

Getting on the boat with Aubrey and Guilim, Eskil turns towards his fellow halfling and says: "We haven't had a chance to get to know each other yet, cousin. Would you care to join me in trying a shot or two of that island rum Robust Hound carries tomorrow?"

At Aubrey’s suggestion, Leelan decides to bring his bow and arrow and a few sheets of paper and something to write with. He dares not consider the thought of losing his manuscript to the waters of the lake.

After Seamus’ explanations, Leelan climbs on board the boat with Grugga and Rohuzar. "Our first mission. How positively thrilling! Do not worry about those spiders, my fearless leader. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox. They won’t get the drop on us, I can assure you.", he says with confidence.

Before the boats leave, Leelan turns to Seamus. "And what will you be doing while we’re out on the lake?"

For the first time since leaving Pentwater, Grugga leaves his backpack contraption behind... along with his heavy scale armor and most of his smaller inventions, bringing instead only a handful of assorted boxes and gems. All in all, upon leaving the Goldtentide estate, Grugga is wearing only leather breeches, a fanny pack-like leather satchel with his smaller inventions, a dagger, and his hydrospirator. ((AC 12))

Religion: 22

Once arriving, Grugga boards the second boat with Rohuzar and Leelan.

Rohuzar, you recall that Shaemus had offered the use of the boats and his traps for the princely sum of 1gp.  However, he does remind you that if he doesn't get the boats and traps back, he will hold you responsible to the tune of 10gp.

Aubrey and Rohuzar, maneuvering the boat is relatively simple... though the keel wants to catch the sand and drag until you are 10 yard or so from shore and the water drops off to what seems to be a depth of two feet.  Once fully underway, you are able to feel for the bottom with the end of the pole and slowly push the boat along... picture something like a dirty old fisherman's gondola.  The bottom feels to be mostly soft sand with some small rocks, shells and the occasional broken log or timber.  Being unfamiliar with this mode of travel, there are a few times where you almost lose your balance but you catch yourself and start to 'get the hang' of it after a couple of minutes. 

Leelan, Shaemus smiles and drives the butt end of his torch into the sandy beach, far enough that it stands upright illuminating the area around him, and sits down with his toes in the water and his bottle in his hand.  "Why, I'll be right here waitin for ya's... to see the safe return of me boat and to toast your certain triumph o'er the sea devils, a course."

Some housekeeping....

• Please confirm the roster and seating position for each boat.  I have Rohuzar in the middle of 'boat a' and Aubrey in the middle of 'boat b'.  I need to know where everyone else is sitting.  Also, who is sitting and is anyone standing?  For Leelan, Eskil and Guilim you can stand comfortably in the boat.  Grugga, you can stand, but feel the same occasional unsteadiness that Rohuzar and Aubrey encounter, without the benefit of a pole to steady you.  No rolls necessary at this time if you want to stand too.
• Are all six wearing your GruggaView 6000's?  Are some of you waiting to put them on until later?  Please confirm.
• I've noted those who left items behind... please recognize if you said something like "I am only taking x,y and z" then I am assuming (other then perhaps clothes and other necessities) that that is ALL you have brought with you.  Likewise, anyone who doesn't indicate they left items behind, I presume you have your pack and all your inventory with you on the boat.
• If you think a roll might be necessary, go ahead and include it in your post.  Otherwise if I think a roll is necessary I will go ahead and make it for you in my response.
• How will Aubrey and Rohuzar position the boats?  There is enough room between the columns to travel side by side, though the boats are too long for either to turn left or right without bumping in to one another... one boat would need to pull ahead and turn.  Otherwise one boat could follow the other boat, leaving the 6 PC's more or less in a straight line.
• For Aubrey and Rohuzar, movement for the pole boat is 15 per round.  If anyone goes into the shallow water, it is considered difficult terrain, up to the mid thigh on the medium PCs and up to the chest on the small PCs.

I'll sit at the front of boat A with my mask on.

The way we're set up we have 3 lights on boat B and 0 lights on boat A... do we want to make a quick switch so the "normievision" folks can actually see boat A if we're more than 10 feet away?

Aubrey is wearing his clothes, golden ring, talisman and the GruggaView6000, but leaves his red coat with Shaemus. He is equipped with two daggers tucked into his belt and his light crossbow over his shoulder and a case with 20 crossbow bolts by his side. Unless anyone else offers to do it he will steer boat b, although it is perhaps better that someone shorter does that. Aubrey will try to position boat b beside boat a if possible.

Guilim will leave his non essential equipment back at the manor, bringing his armor and halberd with him. He will move to sit where he can give those larger then him the most room to maneuver around the boats. In order to he able to see at a crucial time he will wait until the others use their own.

(Here is what I am going with based on your descriptions.  Boat A:  Grugga (front) Rohuzar (middle/pole) Leelan (back); Boat B: Guilim (front) Aubrey (middle/pole) Eskil (back).  If anyone disagrees, let me know via the group PM and I will edit the game thread.)

24   16   22

 The two boats push of into the darkness under the docks.  Its a bit surreal.  You can hear the sound of the high winds blowing over the top of the docks, and in the distance where the under docks meet the open lake, but down here there is very little wind disturbing the surface and the water is calm, with just a faint breeze.  The two boats pull up along side one another with Aubrey and Rohuzar settling into an even pace with one another as they slowly pole the crew down this long corridor of support columns.  Those in boat B on the right can see from the light of their helmets the other crew in the boat to their left, and can also see each new pair of columns loom up out of the darkness in front of them just about the time the last pair of columns is fading away behind them.  Those in boat A can see this as well, along with the broader view afforded them by darkvision... a seemingly endless hall of wooden pillars stretching away in shades of grey in all directions until it reaches even the limit of their vision.  For now, at least, there is no sign of any glowing eyes in the darkness.

Leelan keeps his eyes peeled for spiders.  He thinks he spots some heavy cobwebs in a few places, more than you would expect for run of the mill spiders, but no sign of any actual large or dangerous spiders.  

After what seems to be an appropriate amount of time, the group begins searching for Shaemus' first buoy.  There is nothing here. 

It is Aubrey who eventually stumbles upon something.  Poling the water between the two boats, his pole becomes caught in something.  Pulling it free, he catches a glimpse of the buoy, trapped near the bottom in 2 1/2 feet of water in what looks to be a mess of rope, wire, and broken cage.  It seems you have found the first trap, but something has happened to it already....

"It seems our merman got to this trap first." Aubrey says to the others, as the broken cage comes floating up and stops as it hovers between the two pole boats (assuming it doesn´t weigh more than 10 lbs. telekinetic mage hand). Investigation of the broken cage: 1 nevermind :-P
"At least it seems this creature is near. Let´s try to intercept it at the next buoy." He suggests to the others.

(OOC: Oh, realize i didn´t say that earlier but Aubrey also wears his leather armor if that´s still ok.)

Rohuzar came prepped for work tonight. Chain shirt and hardened leather pants and paldrons - a red stripe across the paldrons. A battleaxe on his hip and a shield strapped to his arm. His pack is in the boat. 

The mask he’s left on his head until just now. He hands the pole over to Leelan and drops into the water, trying his best not to disturb the bottom too much as he dips his head below to have a look around for signs of their quarry. 

perception for the target 23 

investigation for the cage 7 

(Leelan has his hydrospirator on hand, but is not wearing it right now. He also has his leather armor on. Could we assume that during the 6+ hours of preparation, Leelan had the time to apply the red dye to his beret?)

When given the pole by Rohuzar, the gnome attempts to maintain the same pace as before, while also making sure he doesn’t bonk the head of his new leader on something while his head is underwater.

Rohuzar hands the pole to Leelan and slips out of the narrow boar and into the water.  He doesn't see anything else on the surface (other than their boats) within darkvision range.

All six, by the light of Aubrey's mask, can see down a bit into the shallow water.  The trap itself has a frame of wood and thin bronze bars wrapped in a rolled copper wire mesh, like chicken wire.  It looks like it may have been about four feet long, but is now a coiled mess, with the bouy rope wound around it and bent pieces of copper wire pointing off on all directions.

As Rohuzar is ready to dip his head underwater for a closer look, Aubrey attempts to pull the trap up with mage hand.  It gives a bit, but he soon realizes the trap is anchored in some way to the bottom.  As he is about to release his mage hand, one of the ropes gives a bit and the trap spins in the water with a splash.  The bouy is release and starts to slowly float away.  As the trap rolled on the bottom, it churned up sand and muck, clouding the water and obscuring view for a couple of minutes.

Is Leelan continuing to pole the boat away?

"Yes, hrm, sorry about that everyone. It is unlikely that the merman is still here though I think. Perhaps we should move on to the next buoy?" Aubrey says sheepishly, looking at Rohuzar and the others.

Perception when needed:6

Rohuzar will gather up the mess of a trap and hop back in the boat - assuming Leelan hasn’t made off with his newly commandeered boat

Guilim draws his dagger as they see that the trap has been messed with, knowing that his halberd would be awkward to use in such a small area. He moves to stand next to the others as they look about the water. "Shall we move onto the next trap?"

Grugga watches this all unfold in silence and then agrees with Guilim, "Yes, I think we should head to the next buoy."