As Leif sneaks over to the ship he quickly realizes the bowsprit is low enough that he can jump to it. He does and scampers to the outer hull. Hanging from the deck railing, Leif makes his way to the vessel's port side, where the group quickly loses sight of him. Not long after, Joy's voice echoes in his mind. He almost responds aloud but remembers at the last second her words that the figurine could only be used to speak to him, not the other way around.

"Four shrouds, three starboard hatches--rear open. Two staircases fore and aft, central descent by ventilation grates. Two ballistas."

'What's a shroud? Does she want me to disable the ballista?' these thoughts go through the young halfling's mind before he decides on a course of action.

Lusia, hidden back with Cleo and Aisling, is a bit anxious as she watches Joy and Cyriel speak to the men aboard the ship.  Feeling a bit helpless to this point, she worries that Leif will be safe. But she decides to do what she can.  She stays alert to the trio on the board the ship.  And now and then she takes a glance about the area to make sure they aren't caught by surprise by anyone else. 

(Perception if needed: 6)

Cyriel and Joy,
The large man's stern look lightens at Joy's proposal. A slight look of confusion shows on his face. Then he looks to be considering your negotiation.

The half-elf in the back remains incredibly calm but also seriously eyeing the two of you. To say he looks relaxed and ready for anything would be an understatement.

"Slaves?" the large man queries. He takes a deep breath and continues, "Wha...".

To be continued...

Leif,
You traverse back to the shroud, and without even the creak of a rope, you silently climb into the crow's nest atop the foremast. You have a bird's eye view of everything. You can see Lusia, Ailsing and Cleo over by the building. Below you are the half-elf, the burly bloke and Joy and Cyriel. You peer across to the aft crow's nest, and there you see a boy with a loaded crossbow pointed straight at Cyriel and Joy. You silently set the boy in your sights, take aim and loose the bolt...

Your bolt slams right into a metal band that rounds the crow's nest and drops to the ground.

The boy glares at you with fury in his eyes.

... continued

Everyone,
Out of nowhere, you hear a clinking sound, and everyone looks to the aft crow's nest to see a crossbow bolt drop and bounce off the mast, clanking across the deck and coming to rest right in front of Cyriel and Joy.

Cyriel, Joy, the large man, and the half-elf look down at the now resting bolt, then up at the aft crow's nest, where the boy still holds a loaded crossbow. All look across to the foremast's crow's nest and are surprised to see Leif perched atop with an empty crossbow still aimed at the boy in the other crow's nest.

Cyriel and Joy, 
You look at each other. You look back at the two men you were negotiating with. You look right back at each other...

The large man and half-elf look at each other. Then they look to Cyriel and Joy. And back at each other. Then, realising they have been ambushed, they go for their weapons.

The sound of a loud bell starts ringing.

Game on! Roll for initiative.

Aisling's initiative: 9

Joy's initiative: 15

Initiative:12

Cyriel initiative: 13

(Lusia Initiative: 8)

Cleo Initiative - 4

The bell at the ship's helm rings.

Round 1: (Fight!)

1. Boy (foe): The boy in the aft crow's nest. Angered by Leif's attempt to shoot him, raises his crossbow and fires back. Leif, his bolt whizzes past your left ear. Way too close for comfort!
2. Joy
3. Cyriel
4. Burly bloke (foe)
5. Leif
6. Gaunt Half-elf (foe)
7. Aisling
8. Lusia
9. Cleo

"Drop!" Joy instinctively shouts at the boy in the crow's nest as she tries casting command on him (WIS DC 15), hoping to disarm and remove him from the fight as well as protect Leif from any danger of further bolts.

Quote from EmileTherese >>

"Drop!" Joy instinctively shouts at the boy in the crow's nest as she tries casting command on him (WIS DC 15), hoping to disarm and remove him from the fight as well as protect Leif from any danger of further bolts.

 Boys save 19.

"STAND DOWN!!" The young perrenish knight says loudly with a firm commanding voice, interposing himself between the pelorian and the two slavers, bringing his broad shield up to protect them both from any harm. "VE CAME HERE TO TALK, TELL ZE BOY TO STOP SHOOTING OR VE VILL HAVE TO DEFEND OURSELVES!!"

(Dodge action)

Cyriel, the big bloke, confused by your demand, scratches his head before coming to his senses, drawing his cutlass and taking a swing at you. (Attack: 9 Damage: 4).

Leif curses himself for missing the mark on his first shot. 'Way to go you fool, you always make things wor...' His thought is cut short as he moves behind the foremast, a crossbow bolt whizzing past his head too close for comfort. 'Whoah... I think I made him angry.' Leif quickly affixes another blunted bolt to his crossbow and looses it in return to the boy across from him. While yelling, "Your aim is as terrible as your choice of friends!"

Attack: 24

Damage: 5

There is a yelp, like the sound of a wounded dog, and the boy in the crow's nest recoils from Lief's bolt lodging in his shoulder.

Joy, the gaunt half-elf, stands calm as ever, staring right into your eyes. Before you even know what has happened. He materialises right before you in the blink of an eye, attacking with a dagger in each hand. 
Attack: 12 Damage: 4, 
Attack: 17 Damage: 2

Aisling doesn’t feel like abandoning the cover offered by the building beside her. Of the two attackers currently engaged with Cyriel and Joy, she chooses to target the gaunt half-elf. The shapeshifter extends her palm, conjuring a ball of swirling darkness laced with icy veins, and fires it at Joy’s enemy.

Meanwhile, her unseen servant stands motionless in the middle of the jetty, a goodberry resting in its shapeless hand.

(Eldritch Blast attack: 23 / Damage: 4)

Joy gives a cry of surprise before calming as the blows bounce off of her armor and shield respectively. "Nice trick! Are you fey-touched too?"

Joy, the half-elf, looks at you, grimacing. About to retort, Aisling's blast of darkness flashes across the deck, smashing into him. He recoils over from the blast.

Lusia also decides to keep back to the cover of the building, moving only to get line-of-sight for her shot.  She knocks an arrow to her longbow, firing it at the gaunt half-elf as well. 
(Longbow Attack: 18, Damage: 4; Slow - if hit, target speed it reduced by 10 ft.)