Klaus scoffs: “We were tasked with investigating a haunted house and now, after risking life and limb, you expect that we can trust this hedge wizard who plays at being a smuggler to not slit our throats at the earliest opportunity? Forget my oath to abide by and enforce the law, that is folly, plain and simple.  Either the local magistrate can pronounce sentence or we give this miscreant our own rough justice now.”

"It's a pipe of remmmeemmberrraaannceeee..." Sanbalet dangles it, enticingly.

Wilmot eyes the pipe suspiciously, accepting it if it is given to him. He then begins working to tend Hiramat’s wounds. 

Medicine: 18

Zmeya scoffs. Those who are arrogant in the face of defeat are oftentimes not worth the trouble of sparing. "Tell me - when will your so called 'friends' arrive? Who, and how many?"

'A rest is most certainly in order.  Assuming no one else is inbound?' Gracy shoots a pointed look at the smuggler.

'Either way, we should secure this miscreant while we debate next steps.'  The rogue pulls a length of rope from the side of his pack, cutting a measured amount with a dagger that appears seemingly out of nowhere. 

Archibald will assist Gracy with the bindings.  Gives the help action.

"Tomorrow, for another load. There are about thirteen more of us. We use the lantern to signal it to approach." Sanbalet says.

Klaus holds up the Mariner's Scale Mail armor and offers it to Hiramat or Wilmot.  "I am loath to take anything from a criminal, but I would understand either of you gentlemen putting it to use in the service of the greater good.  My man-at-arms, Rolo, advised me to wear lighter armor but my pride and vanity compelled me to don my ceremonial armor.  I must atone for my pompousness and can not in good conscience wear this fine armor.  I offer it to either of you, although, heh, it may be a tight fit for Wilmot."

Wilmot looks down at the unconscious body of Hiramat, offering Klaus a quick smile. "Well, our horned friend can't really answer you right now, but I'd dare say his current predicament would be the answer. This boy needs better armor or a faster sidestep," he says with a chuckle as he motions for the paladin to lay the armor beside the tiefling. "When he wakes, he can don it. I've no desire to undress him. His wounds are tended. A bit of a nap and he should be able to rejoin the living."

Wilmot takes the pipe, placing it into his herb bag for further inspection later.  He casts a cautious glance at the criminal and his claims.

Insight: 9

Sanbalet looks at Hiramat's current state, and then to Wilmot, saying, "I'd say both."

Zmeya holds Sanbalet's chin and forces him to look straight in her eyes. "Can you show us the signals needed to signal safety? What else can you tell us about your...smuggling operation? I wouldn't recommend lying to me."


Insight - 18

"Wow, you guys are needy. Sheesh." Sanbalet sighs, rolling his eyes. "Here. Look." He picks up a signaling lantern. "I use this to signal the ship." He shows you how, like in morse code, he opens and closes the flaps of the lantern to issue commands like "safe", "unsafe", and "come ashore". Stuff like that. "Are we good? Can I go now? Even if you signal the ship, you're outnumbered, i'm not sure what you're planning to do."

'Forewarned is forearmed, which means we may be outnumbered but not necessarily outmatched.' says Gracy as he finishes the binding (dex check? 15)

Sotto voce to the rest of the party, 'He's not wrong - we need to come up with a plan.  Perhaps we drag him back to town and see if we can get a reward for turning him in?  If we're quick about it we could still use our knowledge of the operation to either seize or waylay the incoming ship'

Wilmot looks down to Hiramat again. "If we're dragging the smuggler, we'll be dragging our friend, too. He's not going anywhere for a few hours at least," he says, sorting through his pouch and pulling out some of his herbs, which he lights, wafting over the tiefling. "I can sit with him if you all need to make a run to town. Though, I'd probably prefer a bit more cover than the beach."

Klaus says "I would be happy to help carry him back to the house.  Strange as it sounds, maybe we should put you where the undead where found?  I assume that the smugglers were wary of that room.  In the event they came back unexpectedly, they won't likely disturb you and Hiramat, being ignorant of the fact that the skeletons have literally been ground to dust."

Wilmot reaches down, throwing the unconscious tielfling over his shoulder and motions with his head to the armor. "Klaus, grab that. He'll need it when he wakes," he calls over his shoulder as he begins trudging back into the cave. "I'd say it best we all just stick out here. I have no desire for an unwelcome surprise at midnight. We can keep this fool bound and gagged. If he talks, we'll late the snake-kin eat him."

With that, the firbolg looks to find a place to lay his fallen companion down inside the caverns.

Klaus says "A fine idea.  I have some dried meat rations if anyone should need them."

'The room next to it had a bed I believe (A22?) - perhaps we tuck Hiramat to bed there to recover a bit.  I can keep watch over the prisoner here while any of the rest of you take a break and then swap out once you've recharged.'

THE SEA GHOST

Upon your return, the town council of Saltmarsh gratefully rewards you all 200 gp each for uncovering and shutting down the smuggling operation. Sanbalet is taken away. The next day, you are all invited to a meeting with the town council. This meeting begins the second part of the adventure, so go ahead and level up!

It is explained to you all that, though the land-based operation of the smuggling ring has been quashed, Sanbalet's story was confirmed and there is a seagoing vessel by which the contraband was originally conveyed, and is now at large. The council, fearful that any surviving smugglers could seek to reestablish their operation from some other base, offers employement for you all to apprehend the Sea Ghost and put an end, once and for all, to the smuggling.

A reward of 400 gp each is offered to you all for the successful conclusion of the mission. The council reasons that the smugglers on the vessel are, as yet, unaware of the capture or death of their land-based colleagues, and a return visit by them might well be expected. Since the last consignment was offloaded only a short while ago, another one is not expected for some time. The council puts a small fishing boat in which to intercept the Sea Ghost, should you accept employment.

“If the rest of his crew was anything like him, I’d say we’ll have no trouble shutting down their little operation.  I’m in of your guys, and gal are.  I may have a new trick that could help take down that boat or at the very least damage it pretty good.  What do ya say gang?”