Gerrard pries open the brass-bound box with the crowbar. The lock releases with a splintering pop. With a hiss, a small bladder inside releases a cloud of iridescent gas in Gerrard's face.
Gerrard sees stars and a feels a wave of weakness wash over him. He braces himself from falling. Constitution Save: 22

And then it's gone. Gerrard is fine. The box contains items of clothing, a leather coin purse containing 50 gold coins, a scroll, and a well-worn book.

Peri and Elbin raise the sails, while Mortly raises anchor. The sail is not pretty, but it holds in the stiff breeze. You are sailing west, and at a good clip. 

Gerrard:

Taking out the book, Gerrard starts leafing through it to get a sense of what it is about.  He hands the scroll to Dwal, saying, “Perhaps this might be of use to us, Brother Fiercehammer.”

OOC:  I think there is one more box to be opened, but I don’t remember which one.

After inspecting the contents of the brass-bound chest, Gerrard attempts to similarly force open the last container.

Athletics with Crowbar:  22

Peri:

Peri barks orders at Elbin, and is pleased to see the boy knows his way around the deck.  Lad's a good hand.  It'd be a shame to see him hanged for fallin' in with the wrong crew.  I'll lean on whoever I need to to see that he's spared. Mortly, though dour, knew his business too.  But he was old enough to know the hazards of smuggling when he signed on, so the consequences were his to bear. 

Soon enough, the ugly sail snapped to life and the ship began cutting its way through the growing chop.  Leaving Elbin to steer, he ducks into the captain's cabin and pockets the electrum ingots.  No reason the Guard needs t'know about these.  He recalls seeing a glow with his eldritch sight and looks again for the source.

Gerrard:

     Warning Oceanus that the Lizardfolk will not be happy to be headed towards Saltmarsh, he returns the elf’s weapons to him, warning him to be prepared to defend himself should they attack.

Gerrard opens the book - it's a spellbook. Dwal, who know a thing or two about spells, identifies them. They're wizard's spells (Disguise self, Fog cloud, Mage armor, Witch bolt, Gust of wind, Melf’s acid arrow, Misty Step.) 

He then pries open the brass box. The box contains 500 sp, and no surprises.

Peri pocket the ingots and uses his supernatural vision to search the cabin again. It emanates from the two potions in the captain's desk. (There's also a third, evidently nonmagical, potion.)

Oceanus is delighted to have his spear and dagger back; his crossbow is damaged beyond repair, however.

Elbin has a steady hand on the tiller. The ship is making excellent headway. They should be approaching Saltmarsh within the hour.

Peri:

He swipes the three potions from the desk and takes them out to Dwal.  "Think you can tell us what these are?  These two are magic, but the third's not, which is odd.  I want to go make one last check of our cargo before we get to town."  After a quick check to verify all's well with the ship, he heads into the hidden compartment where the illicit weapons are stowed.  He uses his eldritch sight again just to make sure none of the weapons -- especially the fancy shield -- are magical.  If they're all just plain weapons, he will head back up to relieve Elbin at the wheel.  He directs the boy to begin untying the small boat and readying it.  "We'll take the Curse as close as we can to the harbor, then anchor out.  Then we can either send someone in to port to fetch some help gettin' her docked, or we can all pile into the boat and leave the ship out here for the Town Council to deal with, angry reptiles and all.  In the meantime, can one of you lubbers take over the wheel? I'll need to help handle the sail when we get close."

Gerrard:

Seeing what Peri is doing, Gerrard secures the recently found coins from the containers on his person and volunteers to help at the wheel, “Just tell me what you need me to do, Captain,” he says.

OOC:  what was on the scroll we found?

Qivys

As the ship begins to move he suddenly remembers why he hates sailing. The roll of the ocean causing him to lose his footing at the top of every peak and again at the low of every trough. "Argh, you can keep this for yerself Cap'n" he says with a gulp, holding down his last meal. "Think I might just go and sit nexta my new friend". He walks over to Kasmen, grabs it's cage and then tries to make his way back to the centre of the ship. The Rolling motion seems less there. He flops down on the deck and closes his eyes. So much for startin an armada, might leave that to Captain Short Stop and the Duke. 

Dwal

Dwal will look over the scroll handed to him. 

"Sorry Lad, I can't identify things anymore since I changed to the war god." he tells Peri.

Once the ship starts moving Dwal will not be happy till they hit dry land. "Dwarves aren't sea folk." he mutters.

Dwal will do his best to help out. 

Quote from cbaer8 >>

(Newly acquired party loot:

100 gold - Goblin reward 
100 silver - found in the ear sack
600 silver - found in cave
4 mirrors - found in cave. Three of them sold for 75 gp profit; one remaining valued at 25gp
+1 spear - found in cave.  Peri has it.
Gold locket with a painted portrait inside - found in cave. Value=?

Did I forget anything?)

 

 OOC:  Loot reference.  Also, pending reward at general store for delivery of the map.

Peri examines both hidden compartments with his eldritch sight, but finds no disturbances in the Weave there. The lizardfolks' armaments are just plain weapons. He returns to take the tiller.

The scroll Gerrard found appears to be magical - a spell scroll. It will take further study to determine which spell.

The vessel is running rapidly through the waves before the wind. The sail seems to be holding the strong, gusty wind; you trust the patched hull is holding up to the pounding sea as well. In the distance you can see the small island off Saltmarsh that marks the entrance to the harbor. They are probably just minutes away. Elbin prepares the jolly boat.

Dwal

Dwal double checks the hole just to make sure it holds still.

He will take an interest in the spell book found, looking it over.

Dwal reports that the repairs on the hull are holding up well. The spellbook will require a day or two to fully study.

The ship approaches the harbor.  Safety suggests lowering the sails and dropping anchor here; between the rough weather and the lack of trained crew, entering the harbor may risk wrecking the ship.

It begins to rain; a cold, thin rain. The wind is intermittently gusty, and the sea choppy.

Peri:

Peri shouts course corrections to Gerrard and directs his two new deckhands in handling the sail.  They make an ugly but fairly quick approach to the leeward side of the island, out of the worst of the waves, and drop anchor.  The sail is lowered, and the jolly boat is run out over the side.  He calls his companions together and speaks quietly.  "All right, decision time.  Do we send someone in to fetch help while the rest of us wait here, or do we all just skedaddle and leave the scalies for the Saltmarsh Guard to deal with?  On the one hand, we've a solid claim to the ship and her cargo, or at least a share of it, and leaving her out here for the Guard to recover will weaken that claim.  On the other hand, we're all tired and I don't care for the idea of fighting the lizardfolk, especially since we don't know whether they're bad guys or just afraid of getting swindled by a notorious cad.  Any other thoughts?"

Dwal

Dwal stows the spell book in his pack. He makes his way to Peri and says: "Last time we trusted the city guard to do the right thing 2 of them disappeared and so did the cargo we had found. There is something wicked in this place and the more folks we trust the more chance that we get a dagger in our backs. Like it or not I think the Lizardfolk are our problem to deal with. Since we are not throwing all the stuff overboard we might as well let them have it, just not where they wanted to have it. That's my vote." Dwal says.

Gerrard:

Once the anchor is down, Gerrard gratefully releases the ship's wheel and comes down to join the others.  He says, "We should do our best to get the cargo of this vessel back to its rightful owners.  We've got that drilling equipment that was probably stolen from someone around here, the fabric and the spirits.  We have already freed Oceanus and returned his weapons, and I hope to peacefully resolve the situation with the LIzardmen.  On top of all that is the vessel itself--if we gain salvage title to it, I suggest we sell it here in Saltmarsh or possibly to the Seaton navy , as neither Master Qivys or Brother Dwal seem to be the nautical type."

"All of that is to say, I think we should hold fast here and guard the ship while someone goes into the harbor and requests aid to bring in the ship safely," says Gerrard.  "It would seem the honorable thing to do for the LIzardfolk would be to set them ashore with their cargo here or help them arrange for further transportation, as we are not equipped to continue the voyage. If they are not amenable to such a plan, it may come to violence, but I hope to avoid bloodshed if possible."

A small vessel is approaching from the harbor. Dwal recognizes it as a Crown ship, crewed by the town guard to inspect ships upon arrival. They are employed to check manifests, inspect cargo, and prepare tariffs. 

Peri:

"I agree with Master Fiercehammer: I don't trust the town guard as far as I can spit.  I'd rather not lose another cargo to incompetence or corruption.  If we're all of a mind, we should prepare ourselves lest the lizardfolk get violent." Nodding toward the approaching cutter he adds, "Hopefully there'll be a pilot aboard that'll guide us in.  At the very least they'll be able to run back and fetch us some hands, so none of us has to leave the ship.  If we offer a couple silver apiece for an hour's work we shouldn't have any trouble recruiting." Then he will go up to the forecastle, where he can hail the boat and have a better angle if the lizardfolk get aggressive.

Dwal

Dwal spits upon seeing the Crown ship. "Well that surely tears a whole in it all." he says. The drilling equipment and tools belong to the mining outfit I work for so I can actually lay claim to them so they can get to the right people." he stats. 

"Them Crown folks 'ill want to kill them lizardfolk so if we do something we best be quick." he states as he watches the Crown ship approach. 

Gerrard:

Looking with a bit of surprise at Dwal, Gerrard says, "What do you suggest, Brother Fiercehammer?  Admittedly I am not familiar with Lizardfolk--recent experience aside--but I am hopeful that we can arrange to get help sailing the ship into the harbor from the representatives of Saltmarsh.  After all, the council did commission us to capture this vessel and her crew, did they not?"

OOC:  While not a rigid rule-follower, Gerrard's noble upbringing has led him to expect aid and fair treatment from the legitimate authorities...thus his attitude here.