Although initially taken aback by the reaction, he grinned backed back before carrying on with the suggestion. At the question after, Xanranzan looked up to the sky for a moment and hmm'd a bit, before finally answering. "Ever heard the expression sink like a stone?" Xanranzan replied. "Ain't saying I don't like water, mind you. But when yer raised to have a healthy respect fer the element, even if its not exactly as prominent where I was born, you're bound to garner a few idio... idia.... habits. Ya start form'n habits when it comes to it." He explained. "Not that I can't swim, mind ya. But, it takes a bit more effort than it would some like you or the rest of the folk you know."

At that, he had a thought to take the hand back, what with not wanting to be too over familiar only... to have it held in place. Seeing that, apart from briefly cocking his head to the side and quirking a brow, he eventually just shrugged it off as another 'human thing' and carried on loosely walking side-by-side.  "He does gotta point there, Kethra. 'n worse case scenario, Rubin can do his whole disappearing trick or, uh, Allistair can fly to flag down some help or somethin'. Question is... how we're gonna go 'bout sneaking on board? Or should one or two of us stay topside to try distract'em?" 

"When did you get the idea I was afraid of water?" Rubin asks with a frown over his shoulder. "I recall I was one of the ones swimming through ghoul-infested waters scouting for the group..."

(What did you all decide on doing?)

Quote from DragonDenn >>

"When did you get the idea I was afraid of water?" Rubin asks with a frown over his shoulder. "I recall I was one of the ones swimming through ghoul-infested waters scouting for the group..."

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

"Yeah, thanks for doing that by the way."

Kethra unhands Xanranzan to hide behind Mr. Tyde, or more specificially, Mr. Tyde's owl.

"Yeah, sorry...I was actually just going to suggest we look for tracks, maybe wagon tracks that are deeper than normal because smugglers are trying to smuggle things heavier than normal, then cut them off on land?

"But if you're okay with water now...I mean, if you've always been okay with water then we can totally go with Mr. Tyde's plan."

"Let's move down and check out this ship." Rubin says with a shrug.

Kethra's face lights up at Rubin's suggestion.

"Hey, and if our feathered friend here saw boxes, then maybe we should swing by the blacksmith and pick up a couple of crowbars for you two? Rubin you can use your sneakiness and Mr. Tyde, you can find the best hiding places with the help of mmm--listair!"

She barely finished the sentence when she suddenly buries her face in the owl's fluffy wing. With a look of contentment she drifts off, and continues after a few seconds.

"Once we leave the blacksmith I'll go with Xanranzan so he won't be by himself. If anything goes wrong Xan is good at making noise...or you guys can clang clang your crowbars together if you guys run into trouble."

(so how are you approaching again?  Are you trying stealth, are you going by water?)

(Also, I feel like I should mention the fact that you’ve gotten clues leading to 3 other locations as well—Feathergale Spire, Sacred Stone Monastery and Scarlet Moon Keep.)

(lol, are you hinting that this upcoming encounter is too strong for us or do we need to go and find out for ourselves?)

Rubin agrees that stealth is best. Stealth: 18

Yes we have other leads, but we are here and this is the closest lead we currently have. Rubin would want to head to the spire next, if given a choice, as that was one of their earlier items of interest.

Quote from konpk >>

(lol, are you hinting that this upcoming encounter is too strong for us or do we need to go and find out for ourselves?)

 (No, I just thought someone mentioned not having any clues to go off of.  This encounter if anything was "meant" to happen earlier, before Rivergard.)

(Need stealth from Xan and Kethra, or are just the two of you going?)

(Xanranzan loosely mentioned some curiosity in that direction. But can't remember if he ever quite got a clear answer on that. Also sounds as if where all spying from a distance it seems, so here's the roll.)

"Whichever way ya'll wanna play it is fine by me. But sure, we can try that first one and see how it goes. And if it goes bad and they decide to get rough, well, they'll only have themself to blame fer start'n somethin' they ain't prepared to finish." Xanranzan plainly before following Rubin's lead on sorting out places to observe from.

Tyde's Stealth: 11.

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

"For now let's try to go undiscovered."

Stealth 4

Still wearing the same expression, the pale-eyed girl wordlessly follows the rest of the party, (back of the line).

Perception: 18 

The four of you try to creep up to the ship, but Kethra trips over her maul handle and makes a loud clattering noise.  A sentry on the ship perks up and looks around, but doesn’t quite see where you are yet.

"Simply take the ship?" Rubin asks with a shrug. "Take prisoners if possible, otherwise just rush them, overpower them, and search the ship when the battle is over."

Xanranzan kind of makes a funny face as he nods in some agreement to Rubin's suggestion. He then looks to Kethra, expecting a similar if not another alternate plan. Thinking much, he do. Smart, he was not. Planning much, he liked. Coming up with said plan... Xanranzan was not so good. But hands he would throw in a heartbeat if but asked to by a friend.

Catching his gaze, Kethra returns Xanranzan's glance with a smile. "Sorry about the noise!"

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

"Yes, keeping it simple is a good idea. Just rushing the ship and overwhelming them quickly sounds good."

The pale eyed girl nods.

"Holding the ship ransom is a good idea, but if Quill is as good and as secretive as he's supposed to be, he'd probably be overseeing the ship himself."

(I’m assuming Rubin will go with?)

Rubin will. Stealth: 17