OOC:  If it takes more than five rounds to make the narrow channel, Gerrard will turn around and head back to the ship, so that makes 12 or so rounds total in the water.  The coldness initially shocks him more awake, but he doesn’t want to become exhausted while still in the water, especially if he starts getting tired quickly.

(It'll take at least twice that long. FYI, here are the DMG rules on cold water:

Frigid Water

A creature can be immersed in frigid water for a number of minutes equal to its Constitution score before suffering any ill effects. Each additional minute spent in frigid water requires the creature to succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or gain one level of exhaustion. Creatures with resistance or immunity to cold damage automatically succeed on the saving throw, as do creatures that are naturally adapted to living in ice-cold water.

So... 14 minutes for Gerrard. The armor does not give him cold resistance or immunity. It mostly just makes your character a little more comfortable in cold water.)

OOC:  Understood, but Gerrard has never really pushed his limits that way, so after 5 or so rounds of finding nothing, he heads back to the ship—just not knowing he can safely push himself further.  If an 18 Perception can’t see the Lizardfolk, they are somewhere completely out of sight.

Of course, if he sees something, he may react differently.

Dwal

OCC: I had assumed the Lizardman had been killed..my bad.

Dwal will go to the lizardman and cast Spare the Dying as well.

After which he will approach the tall man who responded to Peri; "You stow it Long breeches." Dwal says. "I'm the healer on this tub and also a representative of the Mining Company. Company freight is on this boat, pirated by them that is dead, and I say Peri's is the captain and commands this ship."

Intimidation: 9

Gerrard turns and begins the swim back to the vessel.

Surprisingly, the old guard seems to kowtow to Dwal, while dismissing Peri's amplified and masterfully profane rant. Maybe it was the reference to the Mining Company.

"Fine. Tell ye' what – we'll send a courier to tell Copperlocks at th' Company. She'll take it from there. The Company'll get its freight – ye' have my promise on that. Yer lil' halfling friend can command th' ship till we get it squared away. But ye' need to go see Farbern immediately while we check the manifest. The Council will decide the fate of th' ship. Gather yer personal things and let Armand take ye' all in while we go over th' vessel. The Crown needs to determine if there's stolen cargo. If there's legit goods, ye' can keep it after paying the tariffs. Captain #%@$ here can stay aboard and yell at us, but the rest of ye' need to get on the other boat."

Dwal checks the lizardfolk on the deck. It is dead, not dying, and beyond Dwal's reach.

Dwal

Dwal pushes back a bit more:

"We ain't going no where!" Dwal states. "Last time we trusted you lot 2 of yours ran off ta parts unknown with the stolen freight. You may not be but yer guard is full of thieves on the pay roll for what ever is directing these pirates. The Crown can look all they like as soon as ONE of the councilmen, preferably the one that directs the mining company, gets her arse on this ship and gives us the go ahead to release it to you lot.' Dwal states.

"An if'n you want to try me, I got dragon blood in me and can burn this tub to sunder. Now hop too like a good lad and go fetch her like I said."

With that Dwal will use Prestidigitation and summon a small fire at the end of his hammer. (it won't burn long but it's for effect)

Peri:

"And just what is so all-fire important that we need to leave you chuckleheads in charge of our ship? Farbern can look out his window and see the blasted thing so he knows we've succeeded.  No, I at least will stay aboard to make sure none of contraband turns up 'missing' like it did the last time we left the Guard in charge.  I'll leave it to my crew to decide for themselves whether they want to go speak to Farbern, except for Elbin there who I'll want here where I can keep an eye on him.  The others can stay or go as they like, and Farbern can pound sand -- we didn't join the Guard so we don't answer to him."  Peri will let the guards inspect whatever they want, but will follow along with them keeping his own tally of the cargo.

Gerrard:

OOC:  Wasn't sure about the LIzardman, but worth a check.  If the council wanted to sue for peace with the Lizardfolk tribe, not having killed any of their tribe would have been good.

Seeing no sign of lizardfolk or sea elf, Gerrard sighs and heads back to the ship in the cold water.  He moves fast enough to keep his blood pumping and ward off the chill for now, but his mind races along with his body knifing through the chop..."Well, if Saltmarsh wasn't at war with the lizardfolk, they are now, unless Oceanus can pull through for us," he thinks, wondering what has transpired with the guard on the ship--no doubt they were falling all over themselves apologizing for antagonizing the lizardfolk and feting the heroes for defeating the smugglers and commandeering their ship.

The old guard turns purple with fury, gripping the hilt of his longsword for a moment, then seems to gain control of himself. 

"Here are th' Crown's rules. You lot all stand right here on deck. Right here. Don' go belowdecks, don' disappear into th' cabins. Prudence here'll take yer names. Dwarf," he says, addressing Dwal, "and th' Captain can accompany me as Pits and I inventory this crate."

 The bowl-headed teen pulls a flat block of wood and a metal stylus out of his pack, and follows the old guard down the ladder into the hold, where they begin to rummage through the cargo. The old man verbally inventories the hold as the teen takes notes by scratching them into his block.

The female guard begins to ask Elbin, Qivys, and Mortly their name, age, occupation, employer, and place of residence. 

Meanwhile, Gerrard swims around the the port side of the ship where the ladder hangs down to the Guard's ship. He is greeted by a burly guard in the smaller vessel pointing a crossbow at his face. "Hold it right there."

 Peri:

"Mister Fiercehammer, I believe you have some experience with clerking. Would you please keep an inventory for our own use as well? There's plenty of paper and ink in the Captain's desk if you need it." Then he will shadow the old guard as he inspects the cargo. Each time the guard calls out an item to his assistant, Peri calls the same to Dwal. "Four bolts of red wool cloth, medium quality," calls the guard, immediately echoed, "Four bolts of red wool cloth, medium quality," by Peri. He stands as obnoxiously close to the man as he can (which, for a halfling, is pretty darned obnoxiously close).

Dwal

Dwal looks to Peri, reluctantly. "Just give the word lad and we can deal with this." he says. "I don't like pushy humans especially ones that we know have thieven ties. But, I'll abide what you say in this." 

Dwal keeps his hammer and shield at the ready. As for the questions, he's a stubborn dwarf that doesn't trust those that have proven to be thieves in the past so, he will not say a word.

Dwal

Seeing what Peri is about, Dwal will get paper and ink and pen and use the deck as a hard surface and write. When Peri calls out, Dwal will cast Thaumaturgy and call back what he hears as loud as possible. 

OCC: the spell only lasts for 1 minute and Dwal will alternate the casting for the best effects.

The veins in the Guard's temple bulge, his eye twitching, as he rushes through the inventory, doing his best to completely ignore you. The flushed, tense teen sweats profusely as he transcribes.

The Guard struts into the cabin adjoining the weapon cache compartment. He stares at the bundles on the floor. "What's this, then?"

Gerrard:

Looking over at the guard, he says, “Sure thing, guardsman.  I’m just preparing to climb back onto the ship I arrived on after trying to catch those Lizardfolk who swam off.  What seems to be the issue?”

((OOC:  I just laughed out loud at the thought of everyone on deck hearing, in Dwal's booming, thunderous voice, "FOUR BOLTS OF RED WOOL CLOTH, MEDIUM QUALITY!!!"

Also, are the bundles the guard is asking about the lizardfolk's weapons or something else?))

The beefy guard lowers his weapon and allows Gerrard to board his vessel (which he'll need to do to access the ladder to the ship.) 

The old guard  ("Mr. Fowler" is what the bowl-headed teen calls him) is referring to the wrapped bundles of Lizardfolk weapons, which he spotted through the open secret door from the adjacent cabin. He begins to inventory them as well ("10 morningstars, ...")

Gerrard:

Nodding his thanks, Gerrard says, “Thanks for your help, guardsman.  We were able to overcome the smugglers, but sailing their ship into port is beyond our capability with the smuggler crew dead.”

Coming up over the railing into the main ship, Gerrard says to his friends, “I tried my best, but the Lizardfolk got away.  I don’t know if they were legitimate traders duped by the smugglers or weapon smugglers themselves, but with their comrade dead on the deck, Saltmarsh will be at war with their tribe if they weren’t before.  I was hoping prevent their escape to stop them from reporting to their tribe, but I failed.”  

Gerrard tries to find a towel or something to dry off and warm up with as he assessed the situation on deck.

Peri:

"10 morning stars!" Peri echoes, then waits as Dwal repeats it.  "These are the weapons the lizardfolk paid the smugglers to deliver.  I don't know where they came from, but you could ask the sea elf... Oh that's right! He scarpered off after you lot started a brawl!  I also don't know what the lizardfolk intended to use them for, but I suppose you could ask... Oh, nope!  Can't ask the lizardfolk, cuz you killed their pet and started the aforementioned brawl!  But at least we won't be eaten by that fearsome, cat-sized lizard!  Bravo!" As he delivers this, uh... critique?... he stands on the edge of the tarp wrapped around the bundle of swords, so that to open it Fowler will either have to ask him to move, or try to yank the tarp out from under him.

Dwal

Seeing the return of Gerrard, and his mild discomfort Dwal will continue with his inventory check list. 

Gerrard:

With a towel wrapped around him, Gerrard looks below deck to see what is going on, just in time to hear the tail end of Peri’s comment.  “Is everything okay down there, Captain Fenwader?  I assume you are engaged in determining what pirated items can be returned to their rightful owners.  I’ll stay up here unless you need me.”

Turning to the put-upon Dwal and Qivys, Gerrard says more quietly, “This is not exactly the hero’s welcome I was hoping for after defeating the smugglers and managing to save both the ship and its cargo.  I take it matters went downhill after I left?”