The captain says, "According to the procedure, you would be within full rights to kill any orcs should they try to escape, hence why I wish to leave you here. I know about Warlocks, you do not have to explain how Pactext works. Since I do not trust you to not kill the pirates I am going to place you in a situation where killing the pirates is justified and expected. Were this any other day, I would entrust the guarding duty to my First Mate but his performance this entire day has been less than passable. Hence why I am placing you here to make sure the ship runs." He adds, "The Pirate Captain has been detained. I do not expect the base to have more pirates than what we have already fought. Based on what I have seen of your performance I believe that the assault team is more than suited to handling the situation. Now any other objections?"

With as much agitation in her voice as Gendan, Runt asks. You wish i not kill the evil murdering, thieving, underhanded, foul smelling pirates who would not think twice of killing any of us at a moments notice ?

The Captain calmly informs Runt, "I understand what you are saying. However, we must not sacrifice due process and the law because we feel someone is evil. If we were to abandon due process, we would be perpetuating anarchy and chaos. Finally, we must keep these pirates alive for questioning. I'm not sure if you've paid attention to the captain's equipment but she was equipped with magic armor and shields. Though it is not impossible for her to get her hands on this type of gear, I believe we would benefit from questioning them. We can't question them if they are dead."

“And if there were no prisoners, I would be free to join the assault?”

Elsara looks up from her book she was checking her spells in. "Huh? Oh, right." Elsara will cast detect magic upon that notice. "Umm, Runt? We don't want to just kill everyone for bad things. If we just murdered everyone who did something wrong, aren't we being like them?" She thinks back to her first mission with The Guild, and shakes her head. She'll try and work out what nature of magic is on the catpain's equipment, and check if there are any other magic present on the orcs in general.

(No hit dice spent on short rest. Will regain 1x1st level, and 1x2nd level with arcane recovery.)

The Orc captain's equipment is magical. You need the Identify spell.

The Captain says to Gendan, "Don't get any stupid ideas. You are not killing anyone unless they try to escape."

Detect Magic can be used to see if there is a school of magic it is affiliated with. Not asking what it does, just a general feel for it.

For the duration, you sense the presence of magic within 30 feet of you. If you sense magic in this way, you can use your action to see a faint aura around any visible creature or object in the area that bears magic, and you learn its school of magic, if any.

Alternatively, could check them during the short rest we're having.

The identify spell is the fastest way to reveal an item’s properties. Alternatively, a character can focus on one magic item during a short rest, while being in physical contact with the item. At the end of the rest, the character learns the item’s properties, as well as how to use them. Potions are an exception; a little taste is enough to tell the taster what the potion does.

Well, it's simple magic so the school is Abjuration and you can identify the equipment during short rest. All of these are +1 equipment. So the captain had a Shield+1, Half Plate+1 and Rapier+1

(Cheers.)

(OOC: Anyone want any of this? I'm assuming the captain might want some of the spoils. Elsara doesn't really have any need for any of it, given she isn't proficient in any of them anyway.)

The gear is being held in the ship's cargo. Once the ship returns to port, the equipment needs to be checked and filed. Then the captain can do whatever the law dictates. However, due to the special privileges and exceptions granted to the Guild Members, if someone asks the Captain for the gear, he might hand it over. He is currently agitated so it may not be a good idea to ask for the equipment right now.

After the rest, Elsara will let the others and the captain know what the items are. She just likes studying magic more than wanting them, it's more if they are helpful for the time being if they are going to check the last nooks and crannies for any stowed away orcs.

(nothing for Val no thaks ;) ) 

Runt grinds her teeth in agitation, Dont know what due process is, but I will try to hold back. Runt is clearly still frustrated.

Runt has the anti crit halfplate already and that's better than AC for a barbarian imo.

Gendan would want the spoils for trading. Definitely wouldn’t let them just slip away unless a teammate wanted to use them. Won’t do anything about it at this moment though. She’s just fuming about being told she’s not fighting.

”Holding back is how adventurers die.”

The captain responds, "As long as you are part of my crew, you are part of the Rurik Defense Force. Until The Vortex returns to Cosmer with her captives, you are no longer adventurers. Once this mission is over, you can go about your merry way. As your captain, it is my order that you stay on board the ship and keep everything under control."

"And not knowing or being unwilling to stay within the confines of a contract is how someone with our particular skill set /eventually/ end up as that Pirate Captain down below, or worse." Devarus said, having gone from grinding his own teeth behind close teeth over the captain's stubbornness to making disapproving dad eyes at Gendan ever since making her suggestion. If not for Val and Elsara, he might've gone on to question if /all/ true spell weavers were like her...

Shaking his head to dismiss the line of thought, he folds his hands behind himself and ask, "When do we leave?" 

(Dev's ain't all that good at sneaking. So, definitely gonna want to try and get that half plate and shield+1 later.... unless its conveniently a wooden shield+1, in which case Val can have it. >.>)

(Also, that comment about not questioning the dead, unless that particular spell has been nicked from this campaign, got a chuckle out of me. Granted, none of us are clerics, and it'd be just that one more step finding one that can use it.)

"Aye-aye, captain!" Elsara says brightly, trying to make the air less tense between the captain and her companions. She looks to the others. "Umm... did we check every floor... deck... level? Every bit of the ship in case there's some other pirates hiding down there. Who knows, there could be super secret thingies that we didn't see on a first look-see!"

(Actually, since the pirates are inherently hostile, they are not going to want to willingly answer all questions truthfully. If you use Speak with The Dead on Dead pirates, I can't imagine any way you can get the information out of their ghosts. Like, how are you going to get them to talk? Torture or intimidation? They're already dead lol.)

(Also about the equipment, once the captain has calmed down, you can probably just ask him for it. As for metal stuff, Val won't receive any mechanical penalties for using Metal equipment. He is considered proficient in them and can use it if he wants without issue. It'sup to Frandal to decide if Val is against using metal or not)

The Captain responds to Elsara, "I am fairly sure that the enemy ship has been cleared of all hostiles"

The captain turns to answer Deva's question, "We leave immediately after the meeting. If no one has anything further to say, then the meeting is over and we leave now."

(OOC: Also Deva would already know this. The Rurik Defense Force is the official name for every sector of Rurik's defense. So the Cosmer Coast Guard, the Dragon Knights of Drynia, The Guard of every town all are included under the Rurik Defense Force)

Runt hefts her large axe on her petite shoulders with unnatural strength and scowls but speaks no further. If this is how she must operate, then she will comply...for now. She still wont gorget having a siege weapon fired at her, but that must wait.

"I was just trying to help..." Elsara mutters.

(Yeah, ready to move on. If orcs try and break free, given they're down to 1hp after being knocked out and waking up, Elsara's got a sleep spell to be able to give them all a little bit of a snooze button.)