Sae grins and slaps the grizzled pirate on the shoulder.  "I knew you was one of the old veteran sea dogs when I first set eyes on ya!  Work for Hailst'rm himself, huh?  That is a big job.  I bet he trusts ya with all kinds of im... imp'rtant stuff if he even trusts ya with his life!  You lucky sod.  But ya look like a man who earned his trust the hard way an' the right way, so ya deserve two of those.  One for each hand."  She yells to the cabin boy for another mug for 'good ol' Norwald'.  As she does, she brushes her hand across her brow and seamlessly flicks her finger across the activation gem of her helm as she 'wipes the sweat'.  "Nice hot fire that.  One thing about livin' in the woods most of the time, you ain't ever really warm."

==================

Detect thoughts activated; Sae will use ir to inconspicuously listen in on Norwald's surface thoughts whenever she is not speaking herself

As Sae converses with the pirate, she subtly attempts to read his thoughts and finds... nothing. It's as if there is some kind of barrier around his mind, hedging out any attempted intrusions.

He seemingly doesn't notice the attempted intrusion, though, and lets out a drunken laugh and a hiccup.

"Yer' damned right! Ol' Norwald earned the Captain's trust the hard way. Say, maybe we oughta go somewhere more comfortable, I can tell ye' all 'bout it! I got some mighty fine stories indeed... an' somehow, I think ya might have a few yerself ifin ya wanna share..."

Sayidda watched Sae and the soon to be dead man talk, Blackstone was trash.....Sayidda wondered if Sae intended to slide a blade into his drunken heart......she approved but it would certainly cause some problems this early on....she followed them with her eyes as they moved....

Emrys nodded at Yevelda estimation, feeling ever so slightly more at ease with the knowledge that there was no sign of Merigar. If the dwarf were there and intended to betray their mission Hailstorm would know the truth by then. More importantly, ‘Naut had direct contact to the captain. They could become the source of information the group needed to execute the capture and it wouldn’t be strange for him to talk with them.

“These numbers are song for someone who had to enter the crew in order to survive.” He told taking the map back. “Are we all on the same literal ship on together just figuratively? I will need to report to my official that, for example, I will be of more use helping with the navigating than anything else. At least until battle.” Her answer was welcomed with another nod. “Well, I already take enough of your time. Destroy those guys purse some more, dear lady.”

Having said his goodbye, Emrys got back to the party, focused on listening and all talk. He was welcoming to anyone who spoke with him and took care not to get drunk. His hope was to hear as much as he could. Maybe there was an interesting rumor to catch. If not, well, the pirate on the iron mask was sure to be a challenge.

As Emrys leaves the tent, the first thing he hears is Sae chatting with an older pirate who's loudly telling her about his position of prominence in Hailstorm's crew... and, Emrys could swear he heard the pirate call himself "Norwald." The name should instantly be familiar to the halfling merchant... the name that Admiral North gave as their quarry, the one using Hailstorm's name to terrorize the sea... As Emrys listens, he hears the pirate call himself "Ol' Norwald" a second time. The pirate certainly looks like a tough brute, but it's hard to imagine he has the cunning and charisma to be the man behind the iron mask...

Sayyida moved up to Emrys, speaking quietly,  " So it seems Blackstone is still himself and not masquerading as Hailstorm.....which means our dead captain might well be a living dead captain.  Its not like undead pirates are unheard of, its practically expected in some quarters."

" Honestly this changes nothing for myself, our job still remains the same."

Quote from OisinmacCameron >>

Sae's eyes widen in feigned admiration as she listens to the orcish pirate boast.  Meanwhile her mental eyes are narrowing in rapid calculation.  She had not expected her subtle probe into the orc's surface thoughts to necessarily be immediately productive, especially because she was fairly certain that the main thing she would find there was a much more crudely and directly expressed fleshing out of what the orc was fairly obviously inviting her to.  But to find no  thoughts at all was a discovery of such critical importance that it had to be followed up at whatever cost up to and including that.  Her sworn love held her heart with her moon dagger that she had buried with him.  And among the Taure Tavarii, it was a little different.  You were trained from your earliest infancy to use body, soul, mind, and will as weapons of stealth to defend home and heart.  If it was necessary to mate your body with one who did not have your heart in the service of that goal, it was not viewed as infidelity to even a still-living beloved, but rather as making a deep sacrifice to defend ... she sighed.  There was no more tribe to defend anymore, Jarl Ragnir Eyskjarssen had seen to that when he hoisted his flag of wood elf scalps.  But there were comrades and duty still.; and to know that even the valet of Hailstorm was touched by the strange magic she'd felt earlier ... this had to be followed up on.  At once  Though she really  hoped whatever was shielding his mind didn't make him immune to alcohol, since she would far prefer to get him drunk enough to pass out before it was necessary to carry the sacrifice too far.  Noticing Sayyida's surreptitious observation, she subtly flickers her fingers towards Norwald and then herself, winks and nods with raised eyebrows to indicate a target pf interest.

===================

Deception 22

 EDIT: Correcting mistyped ability name

Quote from OisinmacCameron >>

Quote from OisinmacCameron >>

Sae's eyes widen in feigned admiration as she listens to the orcish pirate boast.  Meanwhile her mental eyes are narrowing in rapid calculation.  She had not expected her subtle probe into the orc's surface thoughts to necessarily be immediately productive, especially because she was fairly certain that the main thing she would find there was a much more crudely and directly expressed fleshing out of what the orc was fairly obviously inviting her to.  But to find no  thoughts at all was a discovery of such critical importance that it had to be followed up at whatever cost up to and including that.  Her sworn love held her heart with her moon dagger that she had buried with him.  And among the Taure Tavarii, it was a little different.  You were trained from your earliest infancy to use body, soul, mind, and will as weapons of stealth to defend home and heart.  If it was necessary to mate your body with one who did not have your heart in the service of that goal, it was not viewed as infidelity to even a still-living beloved, but rather as making a deep sacrifice to defend ... she sighed.  There was no more tribe to defend anymore, Jarl Ragnir Eyskjarssen had seen to that when he hoisted his flag of wood elf scalps.  But there were comrades and duty still.; and to know that even the valet of Hailstorm was touched by the strange magic she'd felt earlier ... this had to be followed up on.  At once  Though she really  hoped whatever was shielding his mind didn't make him immune to alcohol, since she would far prefer to get him drunk enough to pass out before it was necessary to carry the sacrifice too far.  Noticing Sayyida's surreptitious observation, she subtly flickers her fingers towards Norwald and then herself, winks and nods with raised eyebrows to indicate a target pf interest.

===================

Deception 22

 EDIT: Correcting mistyped ability name

Norwald's Insight check: 14 (Note: Sae... you are lucky that he's so drunk; he had disadvantage for intoxication and his first roll was a Nat 20)

Norwald stands up, swaying slightly as he wraps a strong arm around Sae.

"Well then, we an't got all night 'ere. Let's go to the ship an' I'll show yee how to REALLY party in style!" he laughs as he starts lumbering towards a massive ship anchored by the shore.

It isn't hard to tell that the ship you are approaching is none other than Hailstorm's personal ship... though the living crew are all on shore, several of the deathlocks remain faithfully on duty. Their empty eye sockets study you briefly as you pass by them, before they return to their toil.

Norwald doesn't seem even slightly troubled by the undead horrors... whether it's because he really is that brave or because of the combination of liquid courage and believing that he's just about to get lucky is anyone's guess. He makes a b-line for the officers' quarters, and shows Sae into a quite luxurious cabin.

"Welcome to my li'l slice o' paradise," he laughs drunkenly, sweeping his arm to emphasize his point. "Now... let's get to know each'other real good..."

He pauses as he starts to unbutton his shirt, then smiles stupidly.

"Just one sec... don't think we need the Cap'ain watchin' right now..."

With a little bit of difficulty in his intoxicated state, he pulls a ring off his left hand. You didn't notice it before, but here in the dim light of the cabin you can see that the strange gem on the ring is glowing slightly. It looks like the ring you noticed the Captain wearing earlier. Norwald stumbles over to a nightstand and deposits the ring into an iron box that, on closer inspection, is bolted to the table.

With the magic ring no longer on his person, the pirate glances back at Sae with a huge grin.

"Now, where were we?"

(Note: I'm going to go ahead and do a 'fade to black' here if Sae wants to go through with this; feel free to make a Perception or Investigation check if you would like any more information about the contents of the room)

Norward. The name made Emrys stop in his track and turn his head. An unusually open, easy to read reaction coming from the merchant. North had said that was the man using Hailstorm’s name. So he is lying? The more he heard the orckish figure speak the less likely the idea appeared. The who is the pirate in the iron mask? As if send by the gods themselves to answer the question, Sayyida appeared, voicing the answer. Part of him wanted to say it was impossible, but part of him remembered the brine and darkness, the storm and rainy shore. The glimpse of a manic eye and a coarse voice echoed in his mind. Those who don’t want to die can make a pact.

“It certainly makes sense, considering the undead we saw during the boarding.” As the words left his mouth his expression changed from shock to reflection. “Blackstone is legitimating factor. He proves the captain is who he claims. And you are right about our job. We just need factor in dealing with more magic than I thought.”  Magic. The word reminded him about the island. “I think we would only get in Sae’s way if we interfered at this point, but I do have a few things to share.”

And so he showed the map, shared the estimative about ships and crewmates as well as the fates of their former crew, including the apparent absence of Merigar.

Sayyida nodded, " For myself I'm tempted to do this ship by ship....I'd like to know exactly what or who it is in Hailstorms place before trying to cut his head off just in case he doesn't use it anymore."

" So.....should we tread where others fear to?"

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

Quote from OisinmacCameron >>

Quote from OisinmacCameron >>

Sae's eyes widen in feigned admiration as she listens to the orcish pirate boast.  Meanwhile her mental eyes are narrowing in rapid calculation.  She had not expected her subtle probe into the orc's surface thoughts to necessarily be immediately productive, especially because she was fairly certain that the main thing she would find there was a much more crudely and directly expressed fleshing out of what the orc was fairly obviously inviting her to.  But to find no  thoughts at all was a discovery of such critical importance that it had to be followed up at whatever cost up to and including that.  Her sworn love held her heart with her moon dagger that she had buried with him.  And among the Taure Tavarii, it was a little different.  You were trained from your earliest infancy to use body, soul, mind, and will as weapons of stealth to defend home and heart.  If it was necessary to mate your body with one who did not have your heart in the service of that goal, it was not viewed as infidelity to even a still-living beloved, but rather as making a deep sacrifice to defend ... she sighed.  There was no more tribe to defend anymore, Jarl Ragnir Eyskjarssen had seen to that when he hoisted his flag of wood elf scalps.  But there were comrades and duty still.; and to know that even the valet of Hailstorm was touched by the strange magic she'd felt earlier ... this had to be followed up on.  At once  Though she really  hoped whatever was shielding his mind didn't make him immune to alcohol, since she would far prefer to get him drunk enough to pass out before it was necessary to carry the sacrifice too far.  Noticing Sayyida's surreptitious observation, she subtly flickers her fingers towards Norwald and then herself, winks and nods with raised eyebrows to indicate a target pf interest.

===================

Deception 22

 EDIT: Correcting mistyped ability name

Norwald's Insight check: 14 (Note: Sae... you are lucky that he's so drunk; he had disadvantage for intoxication and his first roll was a Nat 20)

Norwald stands up, swaying slightly as he wraps a strong arm around Sae.

"Well then, we an't got all night 'ere. Let's go to the ship an' I'll show yee how to REALLY party in style!" he laughs as he starts lumbering towards a massive ship anchored by the shore.

It isn't hard to tell that the ship you are approaching is none other than Hailstorm's personal ship... though the living crew are all on shore, several of the deathlocks remain faithfully on duty. Their empty eye sockets study you briefly as you pass by them, before they return to their toil.

Norwald doesn't seem even slightly troubled by the undead horrors... whether it's because he really is that brave or because of the combination of liquid courage and believing that he's just about to get lucky is anyone's guess. He makes a b-line for the officers' quarters, and shows Sae into a quite luxurious cabin.

"Welcome to my li'l slice o' paradise," he laughs drunkenly, sweeping his arm to emphasize his point. "Now... let's get to know each'other real good..."

He pauses as he starts to unbutton his shirt, then smiles stupidly.

"Just one sec... don't think we need the Cap'ain watchin' right now..."

With a little bit of difficulty in his intoxicated state, he pulls a ring off his left hand. You didn't notice it before, but here in the dim light of the cabin you can see that the strange gem on the ring is glowing slightly. It looks like the ring you noticed the Captain wearing earlier. Norwald stumbles over to a nightstand and deposits the ring into an iron box that, on closer inspection, is bolted to the table.

With the magic ring no longer on his person, the pirate glances back at Sae with a huge grin.

"Now, where were we?"

(Note: I'm going to go ahead and do a 'fade to black' here if Sae wants to go through with this; feel free to make a Perception or Investigation check if you would like any more information about the contents of the room)

 Fine by me, this is an all-ages site after all LOL.  Only other thing she'd want to do other than the PER and INV rolls is to carefully use her helm to check if Norwald's thoughts are still unreadable now he no longer has the ring on.  And she will do all she can to leave Norwald wanting to continue the acquaintance beyond one night in hopes of getting lucky again, without actually committing herself to anything definite.

=========

Perception 23

Investigation 5

With the ring gone, Sae's probe into Norwald's mind is no longer blocked. She is able to sense his surface thoughts without difficulty... and... well... they're exactly what you would expect from a drunken pirate who just invited a lady back to his cabin.

The Investigation check revealed nothing (perhaps Norwald is making too much of a scene for you to focus), but simply scanning the room brought some things to your attention...

1) The longsword that Norwald dropped to the floor in his hurry appears to be covered with a thin layer of frost, which is strange considering it's a hot Summer night.

2) The box Norwald deposited the ring into doesn't have a lock, and almost seemed to spring open on its own as soon as the orcish pirate touched it.

3) You can hear sounds faintly coming from below deck that you can tell are not simply the wood settling or the crash of the waves against the sides of the ship. It sounds more like what you would expect from a forge.

To keep the old pirate interested, go ahead and roll me a Persuasion check (with advantage thanks to the insight you gleaned from your helm).

Edit: actually, don't bother rolling that Persuasion check. I think it's reasonable enough to say that Norwald would be more than happy to keep having his fun.

Areleo, Emrys, Sayyida, and Wade: is there anything you would like to do before I cut to next morning?

“Agreed and the problem of the island is what happened to the ones who dared thread on it. Apparently the island was the place were Richards lost his mind.” A fact that made the halfling equal parts tempted to ask the man and to never touch the subject on his presence. It was always fickle, at best, to try and anticipate how one reacted to past traumas. “It can be a source of obstacles on the way back anywhere, if you catch my meaning. At the same time, it can also be a marvelous hideout in a true emergency.” Emrys hoped to the gods things wouldn’t get to that point, but considering his luck of late chances were he would experience first hand whatever the place had to hide. “Think anyone else got better luck finding more about the captain?”

Tomorrow, at latest, he should be able to find out. It would be far from strange if their merry band seated together and talked amongst themselves. Asking for ‘Naut should to be expected too and they had someone in the kitchen. Things could be worse, far worse, and Goldenleaf managed to find something akin to solace on this fact. Now the true game beings, he said with the voice of his mind.

Notes: Absolutely fine with cutting to next morning.

Oh... almost forgot. Sae, for great RP and self-sacrifice in the name of the mission, I grant you inspiration.

( Sayyida is happy to move to morning......she's thinking that they should all give Sae a gift of some kind for her......sacrifice in the name of the mission.  Sayyida would have just butchered him once they were alone...and that would've caused....issues.)

Everyone may take a Long Rest and attune to your magic items that you stole from Bart.

In the morning (well... early afternoon), you return to the ship. You have been assigned to join Commander Richards because his crew is a bit short-staffed at the moment.

On the ship you are served a surprisingly edible brunch, courtesy of Xorich, and it seems Tabby is taking up the role of his assistant in the kitchen; you can surmise that she was probably doing her best to keep the crew fed by herself until Xorich got 'recruited,' and she seems quite happy to be relieved of that duty.

Gathered around the table for brunch, you are able to discuss the events of last night and your findings mostly with impunity; after all, it's only natural for bored pirates to gossip.

Areleo will have a large helping of food and listen slightly shocked how much intel his crew members got in such a short period of time. Maybe Atlas was right, this is more to the world than just destroying your enemies.

Wade, after saying grace, digs into the food and shares any bits he may have learned from the evening before. 

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

Oh... almost forgot. Sae, for great RP and self-sacrifice in the name of the mission, I grant you inspiration.

 (thank you :)  i am truly honored.  curious if you think Sae might know about fingerprints, or is that a foreign concept in this world? she'd want to get a casting of Norwald's with hot wax if so, otherwise i think she's more than happy to jump to the brunch)