Sayyida stands oblivious.....and, if she's honest, not really concerned at all.

(OOC: I'm just going to go ahead and assume that Gridolpho is making his way back towards the rest of the group. Since Badmoviebaby2 is apparently out for the week, I'll go ahead and puppet his character for a while until I figure out a way to write him out temporarily).

The sound of yelling catches Merigar's attention. The dwarf looks out the window and sees Gridolpho dashing out of an alley, narrowly avoiding an eldritch blast. The dwarf raises the alarm to the rest of you that Gridolpho's reconnaissance mission has seemingly gone south.

" Well, as long as he doesn't lead them straight back to us and took pains to disguise himself the plan should still work.....hold here for a bit longer.", she said calmly though with a heavy sigh, though her hand now rested on the hilt of her scimitar.

Aerleo grips onto his sword ready for any action that may come about.

'Naut freezes, and some muted sounds can be heard coming from within their suit. A few seconds later, they full a large amphora from their backpack and mutter a word in Aquan. They pour its contents intoa small glass vial, and pocket it. They then step forward, not directly approaching the hubbub but getting close enough to intercept if necessary, ducking into an alleyway to remain out of sight while listening in.

“Far from the eyes of law enforcement there is plenty of people that are not only choose to take lives but even find pleasure in doing that, so you are completely right on taking what I said with some salt but otherwise ending lives usually brings more trouble than its worth.” There was also the case of the powerful that didn’t need much ore than their hubris to motivate a murder but even for them it was usually a matter to be conducted in private, since it would be something so easy to condemn. “I like the way you think, Arleo, but I don’t have experience enough to assure I wouldn’t accidentally kill anyone while trying to put them to sleep mid fight.”

More than that, he was not sure they would have the luxury to spare their enemies lives. Merigar expressed his trust on the triton and soon after warned about a fighting breaking between the four and Gridolpho.

“I agree with holding here for a moment since walking away now may get their attention. Ninefingers know when and where to find us and they won’t come anywhere near North.” Emrys spoke in a manner than someone not included in the conversation from the start would not know if he referred to the direction or the Admiral. “If fight breaks we can try capturing them and having our friend get any information they may hold.”

(Internal monologue)

**I ain't runnin'. Ah'm leadin' 'em to an ambush.**

Quote from TheCubester >>

(Internal monologue)

**I ain't runnin'. Ah'm leadin' 'em to an ambush.**

 
Gridolpho:

Deception: 10

"I got yer coin pouch right here, Bigjob! Come get it!"

As you all watch from the relative safety of the inn's common room (and 'Naut from the alley), an extremely angry tiefling rounds the corner right after Gridolpho, yelling curses and in general making quite the scene. And following him are the two thugs and Jack, who is trying unsuccessfully to talk/threaten his companions into backing down before they get some unwanted attention from law enforcement... what do you all do at this point?

As the thugs pass, 'Naut begins to emerge. They witness the following:

As they chase the diminutive thief, Jack and the thugs pick on something. A strong, coppery tang, wafting through the air. It's a familiar smell. Not, however, a particularly welcome one. Just as the scent begins to infiltrate their nostrils, it is followed by something else. A low, groaning sound, like a rusted gate being pushed open. No, that's not quite right. Like bending, buckling metal, a bulkhead groaning under pressure. But there's something else there. Something underneath all that. A sound that can't quite be identified underneath the metallic whining, but one which is unmistakably human, and unmistakably in pain. Then, from the alleyway, the bulk of that brass giant drags itself into view. It is not as they witnessed it this morning. Its arms hang limp, knuckles almost dragging on the ground as it lurches between the pirates and their quarry. For a second, it stands there. Then it moves forward. It ignores the other pirates, and instead pauses before Jack. For a second, it stands there. Then, out of the murky depths of its faceplate, something emerges. At first it's unrecognizable, but as it moves into view it becomes disturbingly familiar to the deck wizard. A rotting skull, half-picked clean of flesh, the rest hanging limply off. There's still enough of the face left, however, it to be recognized by one who knew the man it once belonged to. Perhaps Jack recognizes it, perhaps not, but regardless it is the face of one of the men who once served on Captain Hailstorm's ship, before it was claimed by the briny depths. 

The face does not move as a tinny, raspy voice emerges from the suit. "Jack. It's me. Don't you recognize me? I'm back, Jack. Would you like to join me?"

As the pirates stare on, something starts to emerge from the suit. From the seams and cracks, semitransparent tendrils squeeze out, dozens whipping at the air, oozing out of the armor. They creep around the half-fleshed skull, and as the suit begins to lurch forward, more and more begin to spill out of the cracks. At this moment, the scent emerging from this creature becomes exceedingly clear to all. It is blood. Fresh and wet.

(I'm hoping this display will at the very least be enough to give advantage on any intimidation check 'Naut might have to make to scare these pirates spitless and potentially allow the others to get a drop on them, or at the very least throw them off their rhythm.)

Aerleo will stay at the ready but will not engage until the rest of the party starts.

(That display is utterly terrifying... I'm not even going to bother making you roll to scare Jack.)

Jack rounds the corner with his pistol drawn, even though he is trying to talk his companions into abandoning this madness he does appear ready to fight... until he very nearly collides with 'Naut.

His eyes go wide at 'Naut's display, and the gun falls from his trembling hand. A less-than-pleasant odor fills the air as the pirate's annoyance turns into absolute terror. And without a moment to lose, he starts running as if he just ran into the Devil himself (he's taking the Dash action... he also provokes an opportunity attack from 'Naut as he flees). The tiefling didn't witness the display as his entire focus is still on Gridolpho, and the other two didn't get a good look at what just happened.

Everyone who wants to fight, please roll Initiative now.

Jack: has already made a 'strategic withdrawal'

Slim (the Tiefling): 14

Crewman 1: 1

Crewman 2: 18

...well that was annoying. Let's try this again.

Jack: has already made a 'strategic withdrawal'

Slim (the Tiefling): 3

Crewman 1: 11

Crewman 2: 7

Gridolpho: 8

The head retreats into the suit as 'Naut reaches out to grab for jack, the gelatinous cilia sticking to the gnome.

Grapple: 21

Initative: 7