If he was a spellcaster Yga will gag him. She will tie his hands first with a trail of rope that can be held like a lead. She will also bind his feet initially to ensure he doesn't run away. Yga will hold the lead rope. This assumes we have time to do this.
Given Yga's non-threatening stature she will address the conscious smuggler, "Well my salty friend, I suggest you tell us everything, as we know stuff and if your story doesn't gel with what we know I won't be offended or hurt you." She then gestures to the nastier brutes of the party. "These people might though."
She pauses for effect...."also if you don't tell us everything you know, when Sanbalet wakes up I'll make sure he knows that you've spilled the beans. But if you let us know what you know, you'll get a head start and a good cover story from us."
The smuggler licks his lips nervously, and the point of his cutlass wavers.
"We're smugglers. Sanbalet is the mage-captain of our ship, The Sea Ghost. We're using this house as a base to transport goods to and from Saltmarsh without having to pay taxes and tariffs. No one gets hurt. Until now anyway. We try and scare people away from this place by making weird noises if we think someone is nearby. We're not a threat to Saltmarsh, honestly!"
"'So why challenge us? You could have just left before we can downstairs. Instead you picked a fight, which you had to win, or your operation would be discovered" asks Susk, rapier lowered, but at the ready if the smuggler tries anything.
"I don't know nuffin' about that," whines the young smuggler. "I just do what I'm told, see? It were probably Black Dan, he's a wrong 'un. Bullied me, he did. Nasty. If you done for him then the world probably better off for it." His eyes dart around as if looking for escape.
CIrcling him so that his escape options are limited, Yga presses the smuggler for more information....
"How many are there of you? Where are they now? What is in the house above? Who are your customers that you smuggle for? What sort of goods do you smuggle?"
"Just goods like you see here, mostly. Posh people stuff - there's brandy in them casks, and you can see the bolts of silk over there by the walls. I don't deal with any customers, I just do what I'm told."
Susk and Yakeerk recognise the stamp of Primewater on the casks. Gellan Primewater is one of the most prominent merchants in Saltmarsh and a member of the Town Council.
"Lies!" snorts Yakeerk. "These are obviously stolen!"
"I don't know nothing about that!" wails the smuggler. "I just do what I'm told. Sometimes, sure, we pass on some goods that accidently got left behind after a ship leaves the wharf."
He sees the members of Amici Noctia glaring at him. "There's more silk and brandy and some more crew in another cave." His eyes look towards the ceiling as he does some mental calculations. "There will be five more lads in the cave with our boat. They won't be going anywhere though, our ship isn't due back for a few days."
" More to deal with further in? Do we just tie this one up as well, while we go see to them?" Susk says looking to the otheres. "Maybe they will be reasonable and just surrender!"
With that he will head to pick up the wand that Sanbalet dropped, and see if he has anything else interesting on him.
Susk picks up Sanbalet's wand which is a well made, but not otherwise remarkable arcane focus. A search through his pockets reveals a pouch of tobacco and a masterfully crafted pipe, which Susk thinks might have a minor magical enchantment. He also has a lovely set of bone dice, which Susk holds in his hand as if weighing them. He rolls them a couple of times and smiles - definitely loaded dice. He wonders how much money Sanbalet has won from his team or the crew of his ship using these. And then considered. Where is that money, then?
Yakeerk uses his knowledge of sailor knots to tie up Sanbalet and the junior smuggler.
"The remaining smugglers would have heard the battle and be ready for us, probably with five crossbows aimed at the corner," muses Yakeerk. "Whoever goes first is going to have to duck and weave. Unless they're getting their boat ready to sail for calmer seas, which is also a possibility."
Yga puts forward an alternative proposition: "Perhaps we could use one of the smugglers as a lead in person to walk around the corner. I'm sure he could persuade his crew dogs to lay down their arms. Although I would be weary of ungagging Sanbalet in case he can case spells with his hands bound."
Susk says "I am happy to head down first, I can try and sneak down using the little shadows between the torches. That being said if you think the young lad can talk them down, we can try that" he finishes chirpily. "Of course there is every chance they have already left if they had a boat and have worked out what happened to the rest of their crew"
"Still worth a look to see if they are still there. Might be worth you sneaking down for a peek Susk.", Zaerra shrugs at Susk then looks around the group.
If he was a spellcaster Yga will gag him. She will tie his hands first with a trail of rope that can be held like a lead. She will also bind his feet initially to ensure he doesn't run away. Yga will hold the lead rope. This assumes we have time to do this.
You have time to do this. Sanbalet is still unconcious - stabilising him just means he is not going to die, but is still at zero hit points.
Given Yga's non-threatening stature she will address the conscious smuggler, "Well my salty friend, I suggest you tell us everything, as we know stuff and if your story doesn't gel with what we know I won't be offended or hurt you." She then gestures to the nastier brutes of the party. "These people might though."
She pauses for effect...."also if you don't tell us everything you know, when Sanbalet wakes up I'll make sure he knows that you've spilled the beans. But if you let us know what you know, you'll get a head start and a good cover story from us."
The smuggler licks his lips nervously, and the point of his cutlass wavers.
"We're smugglers. Sanbalet is the mage-captain of our ship, The Sea Ghost. We're using this house as a base to transport goods to and from Saltmarsh without having to pay taxes and tariffs. No one gets hurt. Until now anyway. We try and scare people away from this place by making weird noises if we think someone is nearby. We're not a threat to Saltmarsh, honestly!"
"'So why challenge us? You could have just left before we can downstairs. Instead you picked a fight, which you had to win, or your operation would be discovered" asks Susk, rapier lowered, but at the ready if the smuggler tries anything.
"I don't know nuffin' about that," whines the young smuggler. "I just do what I'm told, see? It were probably Black Dan, he's a wrong 'un. Bullied me, he did. Nasty. If you done for him then the world probably better off for it." His eyes dart around as if looking for escape.
CIrcling him so that his escape options are limited, Yga presses the smuggler for more information....
"How many are there of you? Where are they now? What is in the house above? Who are your customers that you smuggle for? What sort of goods do you smuggle?"
"Just goods like you see here, mostly. Posh people stuff - there's brandy in them casks, and you can see the bolts of silk over there by the walls. I don't deal with any customers, I just do what I'm told."
Susk and Yakeerk recognise the stamp of Primewater on the casks. Gellan Primewater is one of the most prominent merchants in Saltmarsh and a member of the Town Council.
"Lies!" snorts Yakeerk. "These are obviously stolen!"
"I don't know nothing about that!" wails the smuggler. "I just do what I'm told. Sometimes, sure, we pass on some goods that accidently got left behind after a ship leaves the wharf."
He sees the members of Amici Noctia glaring at him. "There's more silk and brandy and some more crew in another cave." His eyes look towards the ceiling as he does some mental calculations. "There will be five more lads in the cave with our boat. They won't be going anywhere though, our ship isn't due back for a few days."
Before I forget 92xp ea for the last battle.
" More to deal with further in? Do we just tie this one up as well, while we go see to them?" Susk says looking to the otheres. "Maybe they will be reasonable and just surrender!"
With that he will head to pick up the wand that Sanbalet dropped, and see if he has anything else interesting on him.
Susk picks up Sanbalet's wand which is a well made, but not otherwise remarkable arcane focus. A search through his pockets reveals a pouch of tobacco and a masterfully crafted pipe, which Susk thinks might have a minor magical enchantment. He also has a lovely set of bone dice, which Susk holds in his hand as if weighing them. He rolls them a couple of times and smiles - definitely loaded dice. He wonders how much money Sanbalet has won from his team or the crew of his ship using these. And then considered. Where is that money, then?
Yakeerk uses his knowledge of sailor knots to tie up Sanbalet and the junior smuggler.
Based on what the young smuggler tells you, Amici Noctia is expecting the remaining smugglers to be with the boat.
"The remaining smugglers would have heard the battle and be ready for us, probably with five crossbows aimed at the corner," muses Yakeerk. "Whoever goes first is going to have to duck and weave. Unless they're getting their boat ready to sail for calmer seas, which is also a possibility."
"Wise words Yakeerk....you know I'm good to patch you up if your ducking and weaving isn't effective."
Yga puts forward an alternative proposition: "Perhaps we could use one of the smugglers as a lead in person to walk around the corner. I'm sure he could persuade his crew dogs to lay down their arms. Although I would be weary of ungagging Sanbalet in case he can case spells with his hands bound."
Susk says "I am happy to head down first, I can try and sneak down using the little shadows between the torches. That being said if you think the young lad can talk them down, we can try that" he finishes chirpily. "Of course there is every chance they have already left if they had a boat and have worked out what happened to the rest of their crew"
"Still worth a look to see if they are still there. Might be worth you sneaking down for a peek Susk.", Zaerra shrugs at Susk then looks around the group.
Yakeerk nods his agreement.
If that's the plan I'll need a stealth check from Susk.
Yga will wish Susk luck and cast the Resistance cantrip on him in the event that he needs to make a saving throw in the next 1 minute (+ 1d4).