Shipwrecked in Saltmarsh

"I will climb up first, once the rope is secured," declares Dain.  "I want to be in the thick of it as soon as possible," he smiles with a slightly unnerving grin.

((Can I assume I got a short rest in since recovering Molo, to recover the spell slot I spent on Misty Step earlier? I'd be much more comfortable knowing I have the option of bamfing out if need be.))

(The sea journey taking over an hour, you may all take the benefits of a short rest.)

((Yeah, Fianna plans to Misty Step up onto the ship, tie a rope, toss it over side, then hopefully not get killed while others climb...))

Fossie begins the run, turning the Stone to the northwest, and letting the sail almost all the way out. You pick up speed, and the black ship comes back into sight again in the distance.

"Watch yer heads." The boom swings around and your boat comes about abruptly, before Fossie allows it to get too close to your quarry. Fossie pulls out some oars from belowdecks. "Now we row. QUIETLY."

You begin to paddle your way closer, the gusty wind to your backs.

Those of you with darkvision begin to make out some details as you get closer:

• There is a crows nest atop the mast, 40 feet above the main deck. In it you see a single crewmember, staring intently in the direction of the haunted house on shore, his back to you.
• There are no ropes or ladders hanging over the side, but the hull of the ship appears to provide sufficient handholds for climbing - however, it also looks wet and slimy and very slippery.
• It's about 9 feet from the waterline to the top of its main deck rails (and 17 feet from the waterline to the top of both its forecastle and poop deck.) 
• You can (barely) make out at least two figures on the main deck. They appear to be on the port (landward) side of the ship, also looking at the house. A jolly boat is also visible, lashed upside down on the main deck. Similarly, there are at least two figures on the poop deck, and another on the forecastle, all looking toward shore. There is no sign they see you coming in the dark, noisy sea.

Is there any sort of anchor chain we could climb up?

Quote from Blakey >>

Is there any sort of anchor chain we could climb up?

 The ship does not appear to be anchored, currently, or if it is, you cannot see an anchor chain or line.

     Once within range (30 feet) Fianna will Misty Step up onto the deck of the ship, rope readied to be lasso'd around whatever is handy and thrown overboard.  Fianna will then duck down and try to stay out of sight... or react if she's obviously already been spotted.

Quote from Kaemgen >>

     Once within range (30 feet) Fianna will Misty Step up onto the deck of the ship, rope readied to be lasso'd around whatever is handy and thrown overboard.  Fianna will then duck down and try to stay out of sight... or react if she's obviously already been spotted.

(Roll stealth.)

Stealth: 15

Briefly surrounded by silvery mist, Fianna teleports to the main deck of the ship.

Though the light is dim at best, you can see many more details of the ship’s main deck. In the center, forward of the mast, the jolly boat is lashed to the deck with ropes.

Aft of the mast is a hatch to the belowdecks area and a rope ladder climbing to a crow’s nest above.

Two human figures lean against the rail mid-deck, staring toward the coast. Between them, at the base of the mast is a roll of canvas or rope.

To fore and aft, below the upper decks, stand vague outlines of doors. You can also see ladders that lead to the upper decks, the aft one on the port side, the forward one on the starboard. Although you saw figures on them from a distance, you're not in a position to see what's happening now. 

Stealth: 15

There's no indication you have been spotted yet.

Did I get a rope secured and dropped over the side?  If so, just trying to stay low and stealthy til more aboard...

Fianna manages to get a rope secured around the rail. While not as sturdy as, say, the mast, it's your stealthiest and fastest option. However it will mean that the party will need to board one at a time if they are using the rope (the rail may not hold the weight of more than one), and each will need to roll a stealth check as you board. (Notes and exceptions: Molo's climbing ability is not impeded by his bum foot, and he is light enough may join someone on the rope if you so choose; Dain is heavy enough that we'll roll – hmmm – I guess a saving throw for the strength of the railing?)

Kelnan also grabs a rope and motions Katernin to start climbing with Molo. Once they are near the deck, he also uses Misty Step to board the ship. In an effort to avoid overloading the rail, he scans for something else to tie onto.

Stealth: 10

Kelnan teleports onto the deck, a bit more sloppily than Fianna. Fortunately, the noise of the ocean, the rocking of the ship, and the darkness of the night mask his noise. He looks around for more rope-anchoring options. (Does he have a second rope? Or is he retying the first?) He considers retying or looping the rope around multiple railings - that'll take a minute and delay the others momentarily; or he could loop a rope around the mast (risking detection) or possibly the ties on the jolly boat.

He notices that one of the sailors is equipped with a scimitar, a light crossbow, and leather armor; the other - who seems to be the higher ranking of the two - is in chainmail and wields a longsword and a belt pouch.

Molo spots the name emblazoned on the side of the prow - "Sea Ghost"

Molo makes a death gesture at the sailor, looking for confirmation from the party.

Dain is going to climb Fianna's rope as fast and stealthily as he can - and hope it does not drop him into the sea!

Stealth (+2):  18

Fianna and Kelnan find a hiding spot behind the jolly boat.

While Kelnan is still looking for a more secure place to tie the rope, the big dwarf tries his luck with it.

Rope Strength save [DC 7]: 12

 It holds. Dain stealthily joins the others behind the little boat.

Did Molo come up the rope yet? (Roll stealth!) What are Katernin's plans?

The two sailors continue to stare in the direction of the old house. You can see them shift their weight in impatience. You hear one of them grumble something about a "signal."

((Fianna didn’t see Molo’s gesture but she doesn’t remember talking about offing the boat driver!  Joked about the incompetents from the house, but not this one...))

     Once all aboard, Fianna has FinFin slip out of her backpack then fly off the boat, dip down below the rail and fly to to other side of the ship...

     “On my signal my pseudodragon will try to make a distraction, keep them looking the wrong way for a moment.  A half beat later we rise up and attack while they are distracted,” she whispers...

     once all are ready and prepared, Fianna commands FinFin to rise up into sight on the other side of the ship.  Fianna will use Voice of the Chain Master to speak through the creature - or rather do her best to bellow through it.  She’ll do her best fake roar through the diminutive FinFin before they all get up and strike from behind...

((if anyone has the range to make FinFin more of a distraction, feel free?  Fianna’s Prestidigitation wouldn’t reach far enough.))

Dain hefts his trusty maul.  "Time ter bash some 'eads," he whispers, smiling in the darkness.  "Is we fer killing them, or knocking them out?"

Kelnan realizes Dain has made it aboard and quickly ties onto the rail, just in case.  He rubs the horse head of his rod for good luck and signals readiness.

(Alas, Mage Hand requires a verbal component so I suspect it'd give us away before it could do any good)