Claire snores, completely unaware of this discussion as she was in the midst of taking her long rest, though she could easily be roused if it was necessary.

(As far as I know, we were doing this tomorrow.  When she wakes up, she'll process that information in the morning.)

(OOC: waiting on you guys to decide if you're sleeping the night, then I will advance the story)

(You can wind back time to the night if you need to but...)

Morning dawns bright and clear.  It's crisp outside and a light speckling of frost is on the ground.  Villagers enter the main hall early, apologising for disturbing you, and get the fire going.  "Important day t'day," one of them tells you.  "Coal barge is gettin' sent off."  He then moves on, attending to his chores of the morning.

(You can all have the mechanical benefit of a Long Rest)

After hearing of the discovery Nos and Vaclav made, Claire will frown.

"Let's get going.  If we know they're going to willingly allow the barge to be stolen, we can commandeer the barge once it's left the town's port and perhaps set an ambush of our own.  It really depends on how many of the crew are in on this deception," she says lowly to the others.

Finding a cooperative villager, Claire flags them down.  "Could you tell us what time they're setting off?  We're the new security detail for that barge, and we'd best be on it before they leave."

The villager is keen to cooperate with you as you're wearing orange bandanas.  "The barge is being loaded up now, up by the warehouse.  As soon as it's full it'll leave I imagine.  At least that is usually what happens."

Outside of the meeting hall you can easily see the coal warehouse not far away.  It is busy with people dragging large sacks of what is presumably coal and stowing them on a fairly hefty barge.  Fallon is there, directing people and organizing them.

"Well, lets us go join the party," Nos Heliwr says. And in a sotto vocce tone, adds, "We know their number, that Fallon is in league with them; if he comes on the barge we will need to keep him in front of us at all times lest he stick a knife in someones back.  His behavior should give us warning of when the hijackers are about to strike."

Many people are gathered around the single barge which is moored up next to the warehouse.  They have formed a chain and are shifting big, buky hessian sacks into the boat.  It looks about half full.  The boat itself is about 8' wide and 12' long or so, with a single mast, whose sail is furled.  Two sets of oars are also shipped.

Fallon sees you approach.  "Ah!  Good morning milady, gentlemen," he greets you with a warm smile.  "I trust you slept well?  As you can see, we are just loading the barge and then it should be good to launch.  Will you be travelling inside the barge, or following alongside on foot?"

"Oh, I am not too swift of foot," Claire says with a self-depreciating smile.  "I think I would be best served defending you and the crew in this case, so I shall stay on board."

“I suppose I could follow from the shore.” Louis shoulders his pack and glances around in case there’s another opinion.

Fallon smiles at Claire.  "Oh, I won't be on the barge milady.  I'll be staying here.  We normally have a crew of two or three who sail the barge downstream to Grunal.  There should be space enough for you to ride on the barge if wished.   Let me introduce you to Aaron, the barge captain."  He calls up a swarthy looking fellow who is chewing on something unpleasant and who gives Claire an appreciative once-over.

"Mornin' all," the captain greets you all with a toothless smile.  "We should be ready ta cast off in an hour or so.  You all ready?"

"Oh, but I must insist you come with us for this trip.  The Baron tapped you to be our man here, and we intend to take care of this ambushing problem immediately.  Should we succeed, you'll want to be there," Claire insists.  "And should we fail, we'll need you to report back to the Baron about that as well.  I'm sure you have a competent subordinate here in town who can temporarily take over your duties for you for this short while.  Please, do not worry.  It will be my personal task to be your bodyguard, and keep you safe from any harm."  She smiles pleasantly at Fallon.

Louis, the most insightful of the group, notes how Fallon squirms as Claire orders him to come along for the ride.  He seems to be weighing up the relative authority of his position as village elder and yours as enforcers to the baron.

(Claire can make a Persuasion check with Advantage for that clever speech and because you're carrying a big stick...)

Claire's persuasive presence: 3

“I rather think we should stay together for the moment, the barge should move faster than a person walking anyway.” Nos Heliwr smiles, “I won’t mind hunkering down amidst the coal bags.”

Fallon, clearly against his better judgement, acquiesces to Claire's demand.  "Alright, I am sure I can ride with you, though I know nothing of shipman...ship," he claims.  "Aaron, have we space for four enforcers and me on the barge?" he asks the captain, clearly hoping for a negative answer.

"Aye Fallon, that's fine," replies Aaron, spitting out a wad of something disgusting into the river.  "Me 'n' Jack can man the barge if ye can take a few simple instructions here and there.  Oh, and I'll need one a ye to row too.  Who'll be doing that?"

Vaclav slowly follows the others out mentally communicating with Chernobog to stay high above the river a bit ahead of the barge and look out for where the attackers may be. 

He points to his skinny arms. "I don't think I'm the best rower. It might be best if I find a spot out of the way to keep watch actually. I have some tricks that will give us an advantage." 

An hour later, the barge is fully loaded.  Captain Aaron and a skinny lad named Jack, who may be the captain's son, climb aboard.  Aaron moves to the back of the barge and takes his place on the tiller and Jack moves to one of the rowing seats.  Fallon climbs unsteadily in and nestles down uncomfortably amid the coal sacks, near the front of the barge.  "Who's fer rowing, then?" Aaron asks again as he looks up at the four of you, still stood on the bank side.

“I s’pose believe that’s me.” Louis sits down to row

"After you!" Claire says amicably, gesturing for Fallon to board.  

She pulls Nos aside before following.  "I'll take up a position of a rower, but I think you should shadow Fallon... and get him to tell the full truth to everyone at an appropriate time on the river, before we're ambushed," she whispers.

"So... I can also help out with the rowing, if need be," Claire offers to the captain.

The four of you board the barge.  Louis grabs up one set of oars and Jack the second.  Aaron is positioned at the tiller and Fallon cuts a troubled figure at the prow, nestled in with the coal sacks.   The rest of you arrange yourselves with the cargo as best you can.  Aaron signals for the rope to be untied and Jack and Louis push off from the mooring and into the main current.

The river runs quite smoothly here, and not too fast.  The sun is in your eyes as you set off, but the day has turned a little cloudy so there are no issues with it blinding you.  Aaron sets an easy pace, allowing the river current to push you along.  The sail remains furled and the oars are not needed.  Aaron says that they'll be necessary to bring the barge back upstream to Hillsend, "if we makes it to Grunal in one piece".  It's clear that he's not entirely confident about that possibility.

A couple of hours later the mining village of Hillsend is a distant memory and you are nearly out of the foothills and back into farmlands.  The ground around you is still rugged in places and sometimes the river runs through rough boulder fields.  It is when approaching one of these rocky terrain sections that Vaclav feels a nudging at his senses.  Chernobog has spotted something he deems out of the ordinary ahead.