Gracy helps Hiramat police the area, checking the smugglers for any signs of who they are or where they came from, carefully searching their bodies before dragging them to a corner of the cavern, out of site of prying eyes from the sea.

Investigation 19

Hearing Zemya's query, Gracy looks to Archie/Sanablat 'We should wake our sleepy friend and question him, if we can, to make sure we're not biting off more than we can chew, But if our talented friend here can keep up the disguise, I think the rest of us grab some of their' he toes the bandit pile 'clothes and head out to the ship. 

Wilmot shrugs. 

"Let's ask this fella here just who's on that ship, how well armed they are, and if there's a way to bring them in", Hiramat says.

Wilmot asks, "Ok, so who's doing the talking?" Whomever volunteers to be the interrogator, the firbolg slaps a hand on their shoulder, quietly chanting under his breath before declaring, "May the Dweller on the Horizon guide your endeavor, granting you not only his wisdom and insight, but also his yearning to discover all that is unknown."

Wilmot casts guidance on whomever is talking to the smuggler.

Archibald leans over and slaps the smugglers awake.  “Morning sunshine.   Sleeping on the job again I see.   Well, lucky for you, me and some new recruits were able to hold off an attack from some intruders while you slumbered.  Now, quickly!  How many are left on my ship!  What of the first mate?  Our defenses?!  I’m afraid that the ship will be besieged at any moment.  Speak you fool!”

Deception: 18

Guidance: 4

Hearing Archie waking up the captive, Gracy makes a show of moving supplies and prepping the rowboat as if the party really were smugglers.   

9

PSSH!

The smuggler wakes up after being slapped. He blinks a few times after Archie speaks, struggling against the bonds.

"Oi, wot!?" he says, realizing something. "Sanbalet no speak to us in dat manner, eh? Wot's going on, ah!? Who are you guys..and that." he says gesturing towards Zmeya. "What are ye all doing?"

“Psshh..looks like we have a smarty pants gang.  Well, what we’re doing here is figuring out if you’re worth keeping around, amongst the living that is.   You tell us what we want to know and we let you live.  Live to fight another day and what not. What do you say?”

"A wh- smarty pants?" the smuggler says, confused. "Worth keeping around? But, you hired me! Wh! I guess, if you put it that way, I guess i'll choose to live, oi?"

Zmeya feels rather proud of the Bandit's comment. Yuan-Ti society dictated that the more human you look, the lower caste you were. Touche.

She approaches. "You will live, if you will tell us all you know. How many people are on the ship? Who are they? Are there any code words to communicate safety with them?" She pauses, flicking her tongue out. "I wouldn't recommend lying to me."

“Good.  First smart thing you’ve said yet.  So, what are the current numbers and defenses on my ship?”

"Is this a test of some sort?" the smuggler asks, looking around. "Am I on some sorta game show, ye? We gotz the first mate, Bloody Bjorn, and the bozun, Foul Frithoff. Me, and those three you guys murdered. By the way, did you know Bert over there was two weeks from retirement, he was? That's just cold, boss. We gotz Punketah, the wizard, eh? Four more smugglers and three lizardmen, yeah?" He looks around for a moment. "Did I get those roight? Do I win me a prize??"

Gracy listens carefully and takes mental note of each of the members of the crew as they're rattled off, but his ears perk up at the mention of the Lizardmen.

'Lizardmen?  What are they doing on the ship?'

"I dunno, he hired em." the smuggler points to Sanbalet. "Cheap labor, I 'spose?"

“So ya, you’ve figured it out.  This is a sort of a test.  I knew you were one of the smart ones.  That’s why I picked you for this...um...peer review.  I have hand picked the best and brightest seaman to review their peers’ performance. Those boys over there didn’t pass the first test. So, in your own words how would describe Punketah’s strengths and weaknesses?”

'And don't be shy, make sure you cover all the highpoints...'  Gracy leans in, looking to Help Archie.

"Heh. You said 'seamen'. Boy, this peer review is a killer." the smuggler says, then takes a quick moment to look at the camera, smiling faintly, then back to the matter at hand. "Oh, uh. I dunno. I guess he's the scholarly sort, you hired him to blow things up and such, yea? He's a salt-encrusted practitioner of magic, once learned and superstitious. We all give him a wide berth, as he magically steps from place to place ready to unleash his briny magic against attackers. Oi, if this is a review, can you untie me now?"

“Oh, in a moment.  You’ve almost completed the review.  The next question is more about your work environment.  I know that the crew has been really wanting some upgrades to our ship.  Luckily some of our current booty I’ve attained my help with that renovation.  What do you think is an area that our ship doesn’t need any attention and an area that could need some sprucing up, structurally or strategically speaking? You’re so so well at answering honestly by the way.” 

"Upgrades?" the smuggler thinks. "Attention? Gosh, didn't think i'd be asked all these questions. Uh. Well, we could certainly upgrade the kitchen, I think there was rat in one of my meals! And sprucing up? The bathroom! Don't you remember what happened to you in there?" he says, getting pretty skeptical at this point.