Era has a sad smile on her face after addressing the freed slaves, knowing that her words of encouragement weren't that encouraging at all seeing their situation.  At most, she's a little relieved that they've opened up, if not just a little bit, but she sends a worried glance over to the male minotaur who had seemingly refused to engage conversation. She was meaning to go up and speak to the creature, but gets side tracked in Gustav's suggestion in distraction. She giggles at Burgee's want to sending them to their watery graves, but she ultimately agrees. **** these guys. "Burgee and I got this distraction down for sure, leave it to us, just tell us when you're ready."

Gustav had a point in regards to the slavers not going to make it easy for them to rest, really not wanting for anyone else to get hurt 'accidentally' so she was fine with a short rest for now. When Burgee came up to her the genasi could only smile down at her bird friend, leaning down to give him another hug. "I'll be okay Burgee, thank you, I'm just really glad that you're okay." She pulls away, her smile not faltering. "I have no doubts that you can take us to that island, so let's do our best and send these guys to their watery graves, yeah?"

Before going to find a place to rest for a bit, Era finally hopped her way over to the minotaur male, being greeted with a small huff... and a quiet thank you. "Oh, I can tell we're gonna be good friends already!" She beams up at him, pulling her quarterstaff from her back and handing it to him. She spends her time with him and eventually gets him to utter his name to her. Minos.

Short rest (i hope im rolling this right lol): 26

Your Sitrep

One hour passes as you all rest. 15 hours remain before landfall The time is now 1AM. There are a total of 17 Slavers remaining of the 20 original. The captain was killed by you. The Mage was killed by you. And the cook was killed via existential means. They have not hadt time to heal due to 'strenuous activity' of keeping the ship going.

You are only aware of the 3 guards guarding you, you are unsure if there are more on mid-deck or where the rest are located, except the helmsman who is obviously at the helm. You are controlling 5 of the 9 slaves. The remaining 4 will not participate in combat unless controlled by a player and will remain in their cages, with  full cover from attacks from above.

Currently, you have 3 obvious exits. The large Iron doors at the back of the ship. The small Iron Door the Helmsman ran up. And the giant hole in the floors above you. These holes make it easier to alert the entire ship.

The guards are starting to get bored and are distracted, making any stealth DC's 8. 

Obviously breaking down the doors will cause a lot of noise. 

So, everyone needs to describe exactly what you (and your controlled slaves) do, and make any rolls you feel may be necessary. Remember to discuss what you do.. as some teammates don't have spells but have higher skill-checks.. use teamwork.

Reminder:

First door can be unlocked with the keys. Pass a DC 8 SoH check to unlock it silently, and roll a d4 to determine if you use the right key. 3-4 = correct key, 1-2 = wrong key. Make these checks for every attempt. or just ram it for a dc 10 ATHL check.

Second door, Barricaded: 2 successful DC 12 ATHL checks, not in a row.

Floating up the hole: DC 8 stealth check to not be noticed, as they are nodding off. As you are not in combat, you may take as many actions as you like in tandem, so long as you pass the DC 8 stealth each time.

If all 3 slavers guarding you are subdued, make a perception check up top DC 10.

Also, everyone gains 1150 EXP. (Except the slaves)

Burgee, having seen fog clouds roll in over a ship while sailing quietly explains to the others that he can generate such an effect up on deck which could help them to get through the hole above without being noticed. "And I'm good with my hands," he adds in what sounds like a sultry female voice, pointing towards the door and making a motion with his hands showing he thought he could unlock the door quietly.

When not otherwise giving Wonder and Nin a sidelong look or listening to the others, Gustav studied the poison concoction Truk passed along to him. After a while he puts it away in his special case, but not without a few immediate words to Burgee. "Maybe save that trick for top deck. A fog rolling inside might be a bit much." He looks to Burgee's wrists, taking account of the fading but very much still present cuff markings. "Hmm~ Maybe leave that to me. I got a better use for such fine hands." He pantomimes casting a spell on Burgee by waggling his fingers then grins.

"Lady Era. I won't pretend to know much about druids. But if you can bring in a few fey friends -- say, pixies on board for a while -- its maybe their bit of magic could do as a mountain of good. Been an age since I got to play with such folk, but I do recall dreams of being turned into an honest panther at one point for my little friends to ride on in the forest." The panther tabaxi smiles softly at the memory before turning to look down realizing Wonder had wondered over to pull at his sleeve. Without hesitation, he helps her back onto his back, then motions Nin, Gus, and Ka over. While Nin gave a small frown at his quietly made request, the trio take up positions to watch the caged slavers, and for any that might come down to engage while the rest of the group snuck atop to deal with the remaining slavers.

Only if things started to sound hair would the trio make their way up top to support the group. Any remaining crossbows/bolts are divided among the trio. "There. Now, to see about a door. Just follow me up quietly if either you don't think you can fly up the hole and dispatch the three. Because like it or not, soon as they check down and notice fewer bodies they're gonna get suspicious soon enough. We'll save distractions for if we get too close to be discovered, or at least once we're topside to cause some confusion."

His suggestion given, he moves over to the door. Wishing to get through on the 1st go rather than play the guessing game with keys, Gustav quietly gets to work using his lock picks on the 1st door with help from Wonder.

Sleight of Hand: (4)27(DC 8)
(to do it quietly? Adv. from the Wonder keeping look out for him)

Thieves' Tools: 11(DC ???)
(For the deed itself)

Suggested Future rules for Wonder?:

Truk will keep an eye out while Gustov picks the locks asking the party "Do you think we could dip some weapons in the captains poison and put the sentries to sleep?" Looking up at them "I'm not very worried about getting out of here, that won't be too hard if those up top are taken care of. I'd rather not have them gather more people to shoot down here at us. I don't know if it will be helpful but I am rather quick while moving quietly and can climb just about anything"

"Maybe we could use a combination of a distraction and the poison to take them all out at once?"

"Just leave it to me, cool cat! I'll do you one better too!" Era gives him a playful wink and gets to work on summoning forth her fairy friends. She steps off to the side, out of view from the guards and gets to work, casting Conjure Woodland Beings. Eight little pixies rise from the ground next to the genasi, sputtering hushed words in a language unknown to most others.

"Oh, now she summons us!"
"Lady Era!"
"What are we here for?"
"Ew, what is this place?"
"Why aren't you in the forest where you belong?"
"Who are these people?"
"Ooh, cute birdy!"
"And minotaur, and a pack of cats..."

"Hush, all of you, jeesh, I swear," Era speaks in Sylvan, pinching the bridge of her nose as she is already regretting her decision in bringing forth these guys. "I just need a little bit of help, if you guys don't mind."

"We don't have a choice, do we?" They say in unison.

"Nope!" Era grins, walking off as soon as she tells the plan to her fey friends. The blue-skinned woman then promptly tells everyone to get out of the radius of the hole and possibly a few feet more. And maybe just a smidgen more. Just in case.

The pixies gather together first using their Superior Invisibility to flutter up the hole and observe if there were any others around the area.

 Once they spot (or don't spot?) whoever, and what ever is around, they begin dispersing their pixie dust.

Truk will back up a bit, then a bit more and ready himself to break through the barricade or climb out the hole, whatever is needed.

Posting))

Gustav easily picks the lock on the lower-floors door, silent as deaths whisper, thanks to his assistant not even the earwig sitting in the hole was aware it was being crushed even as it happened. The door opens 2 with a soft creak, but not enough to attract attention by any of the guards, though more than enough to send that oh shit tension down Gustav's spine, like when you're trying to sneak into the house and not make noise, but hear every noise like a megaphone yourself. Within the staircase, there was nothing but the stairs themselves, no stealth checks needed once inside, as any noise would be eaten by the motion of the ocean .. among other things. 

(At Gustavs suggestion for his kitten, I'll allow it. Though the part about her not attacking herself but also using a bow... doesn't exactly make sense since it contradicts itself. I'll need an example situation post in a spoiler)

Despite everyone else Ignoring Truk's suggestion, something in the back of Truks mind tells him it would probably have a good chance to work on any of the slavers, except the captain. It will work for up to three strikes before drying out if he chooses to do so. Farther back, in the hole, the now enslaved slavers, look around to see themselves surrounded by the very slaves they had been heckling and berating just the day before.... If any of the Lizardmen are there, .. They're starting to look delicious...., and the Goodberry was great.. but it wasn't meat..

Era's pixies, now invisible, float up through the hole... 5 and indeed.. they see several  slavers milling about. Some of them seeming disappointed at what happened to the kitchen, and the cook.. others coming to-and-fro from the upper deck. In fact, there were atleast 5 others milling about in sight.

The fairies begin to weave their magics of Sleep...

#6 falling asleep almost immediately 11

#7 Falling asleep, due to being in the combined area of the first two fairies spells, but draining it's power. 5

#5 Falling asleep with help from the last few fairies power 6.. draining her entire spell, leaving just Fairy 6, 7, and 8's power left...

 Slaver 7 Falls down into the hole, crashing into the ground hard, waking him back up after taking 5 fall damage (someone will need to jump him and threaten him or he'll call an alarm)

The remaining 3 fairies, still invisible, see one coming down the stairs, and panic cast together a sleep spell on Slaver 8, their combined force just BARELY enough to knock him out, as he collapses to the floor.

All of the fairies appear, having cast a spell. 22 by some insane stroke of luck, none of the other 6 slavers seem to notice any of this, in fact most of them are milling back to the cabins area to sleep. 

Situation: 4 slavers have been put to sleep, though one was knocked back awake from his tumble over the edge. Luckily thanks to that 6 roll, there's no further issues for you to deal with except handle the one who's waking up. And deal with the other 3 who fell unconscious before they're discovered.

Truk, you have easy access to the upper area, your only obstacle is the barricaded door. which is a DC 12, requiring 2 successful passes, or a SINGLE pass of 24 and above. You may also roll for stealth if you wish to try to mitigate the noise made by ramming into it. Or just go full bore.

Burgee follows, and stands behind Truk, pecking him in the butt as he Help's Truk with his encouraging words of You got 'dis mate, I believe in ya! sounding very-much like an Aussie, before he slaps your ass, and gives you a bird-wink.

An hour has passed. The time is now 2 A.M. 14 hours remain until landfall. There are 17 total slavers. 14 of them remain free. 10 of them are still conscious for now.

Truk still having a gut feeling about the poison he gave Gustov asks him to coat both his axes before saying "Have no worries about the other door. I'll take care of that in just a sec" Thanking Gustov for the poison blade he puts the axes back on his belt and says to Gustov "Looks like we're in a fight for our lives again my friend. I'm going to drop as many as I can with my axes and then be prepared for anything! I think we should keep the helmsman alive if we can."

He then calmly and quietly approaches the door. Feeling the slap on his butt he looks back with a raised eyebrow at Burgee but continues forward (Stealth: 11) 

Putting his weight into the door he tries to push the door open: 23

(DM, I want to mention that if your posted DC is everyone's to push through the door mine should be a bit less. PS. I'm typing this before my roll so maybe it won't matter, lol :)

For Dm: 

 Wonder's squirming alerts Gustav long before the goliath gets close. Suppressing his own hiss, he curtly holds up a hand for the goliath to stop in his tracks, speak his wishes, then passes back along without further comment or awaiting to have the rest handed to him. From experience, Truk would know this to not be out of rudeness, about one of the rare moments the panther-like Tabaxi was consumed by sharp focus . The whole time Wonder tries to make herself smaller while holding painfully onto her tabaxi mount until he starts to slink up the stairs. That was until the crash of the guard behind alerted him to trouble behind. Not Truk's actions, but that of a fallen body.

Biting back a curse, Gustav places his faith in the others quickly dispatching the fallen (namely Truk), while he carried on forward with Wonder up the stairs: quiet as church mice, and just as sharped ear, if not more. Gus and Ka, who /had/ been staring hungrily at the caged Slavers, eagerly turned upon the fallen with quick efficiency and Hungry Jaws(+1 Temp HP gained upon hitting). While their main aim had been face and neck to keep him silent, Nin grimaces as the psuedo-feeding frenzy. He almost didn't want to add to cutting the man down, but broke out a rapier and got a sneaky stab to the gut while the man still seemed 'shocked' by the whole event.

Neither are concerned with mercy at the moment. But as soon as the body stops moving, Nin pushes out the mercifully muffled sound of the Lizard Bros. devouring their meal to keep on guard. 

(Gus) Hungry Jaw's Attack: 15 Damage: 5.

(Ka)Hungry Jaw's Attack: 20 Damage: 4.

Nin Surprise Rapier Attack: 15 Damage: 12.

Keeping an active ear Out: 23(PP: 17).

(Forgot Hungry Jaws is a Bonus Action attack, they still got their regular actions:)

The moment either Gus or Ka catch a wind of blood in air, they chomp down harder on the man.

(Gus) Bite Attack: 11 Damage: 4.

(Ka)Bite Attack: 12 Damage: 3.

(Woof! This not having any helpful stat modifiers sucks.)

The guard dies, horribly.

18

A loud, thud echoes across the open room as Truk bashes into the door, sending splinters and wood chips flying, and a barrel or two rolling haphazardly in a winding direction off to the sides. About 5 feet in front of the door is the start of the hole leading down to where you just came from.

A few slavers heard the commotion, and are coming to investigate. You all have one round of posting to decide what you're going to do before they round the corner.

(All my DC's are assuming a single person is attempting it and what the check would be for them. The DC remains the same, but multiple people can attempt it within reasonability, in this case 2 people at most could fit on the stairs side by side. And yes, forgot about that trait, so...... )

(Era's Fairies are now visible to everyone, though no one is around to see them, at the moment)

((LOL sorry! if you ever see editing on there for more than 2 hours, assume I just forgot to delete it))

(Read Above!)

Truk pushing his way through the doors and barrels sees the 2 unconscious slavers right close to him and draws 2 javelins stabbing the first one into the soon to be dead dude at E11

Attack: 23 Damage 28

Being more concerned about who's conscious coming around the corner he leaves the javelin sticking out of the, hopefully now pincushion slaver, he walks towards G15 stabbing down with the other javelin on his way into the ugly bastard at E14

Attack: 25 Damage 27

Again leaving the javelin sticking out of him. When he gets to G15 he takes a look at what's coming around the corner and kicks the table over to create some cover. If he sees anyone has a ranged weapon he'd duck down behind the table. Bonus action Rage and drawing both axes (if I can. If not I'll draw them in the beginning of next round. No biggie. Just wanted to add in in for effect :)

Damage re-roll (wish I got 6d6 on a javelin, lol!)

First Damage: 7

Second Damage: 12

earlier...

Burgee taps Truk on the back and then holds a finger up to his beak in the motion of a shush.  "Quiet," he whispers.  Burgee turns to Kauil and speaks softly in the language of the air. He then hands Kauil his two daggers. The aarakocra kneels for a moment as Burgee uses his staff to make motions touching each of the bird mans shoulders as if knighting him. Burgee mumbles a few words and a soft blue glow appears around Kauil as protective armor. Burgee and Kauil talk briefly as Burgee explains that he should stay out of the fight if possible and use the weapons only to defend himself if needed. Kauil retreats to a dark corner, still shaking a bit but trusting a bit in this creature that set him free and entrusted him with weapons.

Burgee then taps Truk again to get his attention. He motions that they should stay hidden until the slavers get close, then Burgee will unleash some sort of sound/vibration type of effect and depending on how they attack, he may be able to shield some of the party from the effects.

But of course... Barbarians being barbarians...

Just as Burgee is ready to back up against a wall and wait for the slavers to round a corner, Truk blasts through the doors swinging and jabbing at everything he sees. The black bird shrugs, shakes his head and then rushes in behind Truk (F14) as he blasts a gust of wind towards the table (H15) strewing the dishes about the floor.

Once everyone else turned to action, Era called back her little pixie friends with a grin, high fiving them with the tip of her index finger. "Nice job you guys!" She cheered quietly in their native tongue. "Hope that keeps them down for a while..."

"We used up all our pixie dust!"
"We're useless to you now, Lady Era!"

"No, no, don't think that--" She cuts in. "If anything you guys can help protect the minotaur over there! His name is Minos, he's a little shy... But I'm gonna get him to warm up to me, bit by bit!"

"You do that to every animal you meet!"
"Everyone else is going to get jealous!"
"I'm already jealous!"

The pixies flutter their way over to Minos, the minotaur shooting a look of irritation at the blue-skinned woman who could only grin and shrug in response as she made her way to regroup with the others, Minos and friends following slowly behind. She doesn't worry too much able sneaking about since she hears commotion above, presumably by Truk, so she rushes to see if they were all okay. Noticing the splinters and such on the floor, she chokes out a laugh when she joins up near Burgee. "So much for being sneaky, huh?" The druid then readies a spell for anyone coming their way.

((just in case i'll make my attack))

Attack: 7 Damage: 6

The javelins pierce through each of the unconscious slavers, pinning them to the floor, but not quite finishing them. Wet squelched gurgles escape their throats as the Barbarian flipped over a table to create a makeshift chunk of cover, though it would require everyone to kneel to fully utilize it (you can use a reaction to drop prone if fired at by a ranged weapon, atleast in the direction the table is facing. But it will eat half your movement to stand up again)

From across the room, footfalls could be heard coming down the way towards the group, though it seemed like they weren't expecting to see the prisoners escaping, rather some damage, or perhaps something had crashed into the ship. Instead, they were greeted  with a flipped over table, and, just the barbarian, partially hiding behind the table.... After the initial moment of confusion,  they all began taking up positions, one of them shouting to head upstairs, and inform those upstairs.

Mid Deck: 7

It seemed only the Helmsman, now the Captain was above deck. 

Mid deck Engaged: 12

The other four must be asleep in their cabins, as 3 of the four conscious slavers on the mid deck took their positions, the fourth heading up to warn the Helmsman. The last two impaled behind you.

Slavers:

1 -20  2 - 8 3 - 16 4 - 22 5 - 13 6 - 5

Burgee -21 Gustav - 25 Era - 17 Truk - 18

(Roll for your controlled slaves and pets/summons with their proper dexterity modifiers and I'll add them into the initiative list. In Era's case, roll once for ALL your summons, as you summon too many at once, lmao)

(editing)

((((Initiative Order:   Gustav30 - Slaver 3(17) - Slaver 2(impaled 16) -Truk 16 - Burgee 14 - Slaver 4(13) - Slaver 5(10) - Slaver 1(7 Impaled) - Era 6 - Slaver 6(5) )))))I don't have access to discord at the moment, but the trhee slavers will be taking cover behind the staircase-wall, down the hall from where the party is currently. One is running up the stairs. Two impaled ones are behind you. 4 are sleeping in the cabins. The Helmsman is at the wheel.

Kauil, hearing the commotion regards Burgee's words and stays hunkered down in the corner. (Initiative: 16)