Raid on Nassau: 'Cockleshell Heroes'.

[Ahlmzhad]

Rene

Now this is more like it.

Dex Checks: [3d6] = 8 [3d6] = 11 [3d6] = 9

[onlyme]

Geoffrey attempts to paddle. (Dex 17)
base skill test [3d6] = 13
base skill test [3d6] = 10
base skill test [3d6] = 10

He has his leather armor on, just in case, but no pistols. The chance of soaking the powder made it the obvious choice.

[OGRE MAGE]

Siggard leaves everything but his magical components, necklace, magical bag, and one sharp dagger secured safely behind on the McGregor.

He is impressed with Rene’s ability to navigate the tiny craft and row so well over the large swells, quickly falling into a groove with the halfling.

Normal Dex Check (17) [3d6] = 13

“Stay close mates,” he says to the other canoes. “We can devise our plan of attack once we get a little closer to our destination, apparently.”

VdP also does his part at the paddle, but just barely.
[3d6] = 14
He keeps his eye on the strange shells on board, hoping they don’t get wet enough to chew through their little hull.

[Bluehorse]

Team Codfish: Rexlin, Fishy, and Alderhay.

Rexlin & Fishy

Rexlin files in behind the others waving his teammates along as they go. He gives more than a couple looks at Fishy and whispers harshly. Comeon! Would you rather walk the bottom?

Rexlin:
Dex Check (13) [3d6] = 10

Fishy:
Fishey: Dex v (11) [3d6] = 13

[Spearmint]

Canoeing the South Bight. Andros.

A mile out to sea, the six little canoes, loaded with a precious cargo of limpet clams, are paddled under the moonlit evening towards the palm tree lined sandy coastline at the North-East edge of the South Andros Cay. The twinkling pin pricks of lantern light peeking through shuttered windows indicate the Driggs Hill settlement on the headland to your right while from the left comes a faint drift of intermittent song, an evensong of revelry from one of Congo Town's more bawdy establishments.

The reef before you is choppy with long lines of curling waves that break in sweeping diagonals on the beach. The party begin paddling between the ocean swells, towards a mid point between settlements, the wind behind strengthening the sea current to help hurry you along. The crafting of the canoe frameworks are thankfully sound, flexing with the rising ebbs to keep you riding the wave peaks. The sleek whaleskin exteriors are sufficiently waterproof enough to alleviate any threat of being swamped. Co-ordination then is the key to momentum and stability, but the pair of Fishy, more used to being beneath the waves and Stubble, more used to lubbing land, find keeping afloat not as simple as first thought. Their paddling inexperience causes both Codfish and Coalfish to lag behind the trailing wake of the other crews who surge ahead, ploughing a straight furrow through the ocean waves. The gap between the four canoes in front and the struggling pair soon widens to a bow shot distance but dogged perseverance and endeavour keeps them plugging away slowly behind at half speed.

Catfish, under the guidance of Siggard leads the line. The South Bight, a two mile wide expanse between the cays is around the headland and offers hope of calmer waters and shadowy creeks, though entering unseen is the initial challenge.

Driggs Hill itself is a small hamlet of shanty cottages at the foot of a verdant green swathe of terraced allotments which rise in steps, carved into the sides of a steep hill. Driggs Manse crowning the top. A small town barrier wall runs from the hill base to extends like a finger into the bight, acting as a harbour enclosure, behind which anchor several fishing boats.

As you near a cluster of fishermen's shacks on the shore front you note the dark silhouette of a short, squat, stone tower, overlooking the bight entrance. The stone tower is adjoining the harbour wall and offers a view across the bight to a small island situated in the South Bight about a mile out to sea.

The four canoes come abreast and you can discuss options to evade being spotted by any watchmen in the tower chancing passage under its' eaves or paddle straight across the bight mouth and turn around the far side of the island which may offer more hope of staying unobserved.

Catfish: Siggard and Van de Poel and Rene.
Crayfish: Zoggrot and Goldie and Ferrol.
Crabfish: Szmodics and Iggway and Fenis.
Cuttlefish: Shifty & Keegan & Maggott. This group is close to the headland and settlement, paddling in the reef.

(Looking at the map, picture the tower being at the spot where the dotted lone under the word 'creek' touches the Cay).

Rexlin, Fishy and Alderhay in 'Codfish' and the Coalfish crew of Pocc, Geoff and Stubble do their best to bridge the gap between the two groups. However as they paddle in tandem, several large chitinous carapaces emerge from the waters ahead of them, effectively cutting them off from their crewmates. Giant crabs, bearing large claws and snapping mandibles raise themselves fervently one over another, as a swarm of brooding tyrannids press through the surf seeking landfall to lay their own precious cargo of fertilised eggs. Though the giant crustaceans initially ignore the presence of the two canoes, it halts your progress to catch up with the advanced quartet.

Codfish: Rexlin and Fishy and Alderhay.
Coalfish: Pocc and Geoff and Stubble. are located a mile behind close to the sandy beach amid a swarm of crabs.

next actions please.

[Leitz]

"Right, lads, sound carries over water. Let's avoid these beasties if we can, or use the mines if we can't." Stubble grumbled loud enough for both canoes to hear.

Row vs 9 Dex [3d6] = 4

OOC: Stubble would dearly love his morning star right now, but he left most every weapon but his short sword back at port. No pistols, either.

[Stirling]

Szmodics

Seated in the rear of the canoe behind Fenis and Iggway, I would hope he has a view of what is happening to the straggling pair. The fact that in the gap between us a swarm of crabs has risen complicates matters. If we 'hove to' we could just wait it out and hope they catch us up so we move by the tower or circle the island together. The rogue will suggest using the bullseye lantern to flicker some simple morse code to Codfish and Coalfish to share plans. I think trying to rescue them in any melee and we could just be overturned ourselves. He waits for the call to be made by the canoes in front. Siggard or Zoggrot.

"Good paddling Fenis and Iggway. he encourages his comrades and keeps tabs on the limpets for any signs of being woken.

As a choice, Szmodics would be up for paddling around the island. It is a bit further out to sea but I don't trust the Gauloise guards or settlers not to shoot on sight any strangers sneaking by.

[Zhym]

Zoggrot is tempted to try to sneak through right under the noses of the tower watchmen. Everyone in his canoe knows how to stay quiet and hidden, and he and Ferrol can see just fine in the dark. Some of the other canoes aren't so stealthy, however.

Of course, they could split up—the "Crayfish" taking the direct route while the others go around the island.

He raises a questioning eyebrow to Ferrol, waiting to hear the elf's opinion.

[Rex]

Fenis

Fenis whispers back "Circle the island?"

[Monsieur Rose]

Ferrol

I think this is where we are. The tower is near the mouth of the little harbor in Driggs Hill, overlooking that island in the middle of the Cay.

Ferrol smiles devilishly and winks, pointing at the base of the tower.

[Ahlmzhad]

Rene

Rene is comfortable staying out until we need to go in. He feels distance in the dark is a better hiding place than trying to be quiet close to shore. He also thinks coming in with the waves masks most noise and will drive us in faster than cutting across it.

[onlyme]

Geoffrey paddles along with Stubble and Pocc,.

base skill test [3d6] = 11 Dex17

[GreyWolfVT]

Pocc continues to paddle the canoe and follow the other boats.

Dex check (14) [3d6] = 10

[Bluehorse]

Team Codfish: Rexlin, Fishy, and Alderhay.

Rexlin & Fishy

The scowling pirate leans over to his two teammates. Look... I love a good crab meal.. but we are on a schedule and gotta keep it quiet. Let's skirt around a few more yards and give them some birth but remember this spot to come back to later. Imagine hauling one of those big buggers into The Butcher's galley. We'd eat like kings! Plus getting him on our good side with certainly be helpful later no matter what happens, savvy?

With that he will push on leading the way and trying to put as much room between him and the crabs as possible.

[OGRE MAGE]

Siggard tries to keep track of each canoe as they paddle closer to their target.

He sees the interest in the faces of the thieves, wishing to go straight through the most direct approach. He nods and whispers softly when hand signals arent enough.

"If we are going to split up, before you guys do your thing, lets determine a signal that we will use to coordinate our attacks once the rest of us are in place."

The mage agrees with Szmodics, wishing to take his canoe along the longer route that will keep them away from the prying eyes of the many watchmen.

[shaidar]

Alderhay seems mesmerised by the giant, snapping, crustacea, but snaps out of it when Rexlin speaks.

He nods "Yea, lets try and get around them, I don't fancy taking on more than one at a time"

[Bluehorse]

Rexlin

If they are burying eggs, I wonder what they would taste like or be worth? Might make a hell of an omelet.

[Hotgoblin]

Iggway keeps paddling as quietly as she can. Yes, let’s stay out of the “enemies” view ..

[Zhym]

"If we are going to split up, before you guys do your thing, lets determine a signal that we will use to coordinate our attacks once the rest of us are in place."

Grothnak agrees, but he can't think of a signal that wouldn't also alert their mock "enemy" to the attack.

[Spearmint]

Canoeing the South Bight. Andros.

Codfish and Coalfish crews face being cut off from the quartet ahead with the clamouring crabs creating a carapace and claw wall between them. The crabs snap menacing mandibles and claws as a warning shot across the bows of the little boats but their instinctive drive to make land and scuttle away to dig out nursery chambers is stronger than a hunger for fresh seafood. The group smartly avoids any confrontation and adroitly about turn in the waves to navigate around the critters who emerge from the shallow reef to wade ashore. The trio's adapt their paddling styles, sinking the short oars into the waves at oblique angles to counter the wave effects and speed the boats parallel to the east shore line. You are however several turns and a mile sperated from the advanced quartet. The other canoes are not in sight and you face a choice as to you next manoeuvre. You paddle in the shallows towards the headland turn and hillside settlement, the squat guard tower silhouetted in the moonlight ahead.

Rexlin & Fishy, Alderhay, Geoff, Pocc, Stubble discuss and make a decision on how to proceed unseen.

Catfish, Crabfish and Cuttlefish, take the decision to keep in the ocean blue and paddle the mile across the current to round the bight island. The island is a rough oval shape about half a mile in length with a rounded hilltop and a small attached hillock on the north attached by a low stretch if land. An aerial view would give the impression of a turtle from which the Cay takes its name. The ocean side has a long stretch of sandy beach but it is not turtles on the beach which you observe but the broken remains of an overturned hull and a gallows platform from which half a dozen skeletal remains dangle. With your recent experiences on the Guineaman , skeletal remains may not be high on the investigation list. However, basking upon a rock above a small log fire and swigging from a broken bottle is a strangely hooded figure, humanoid and mishapen, who watches your bypass out to sea. He stutters to the shore and hails you, raising the bottle in his .... claw.

Siggard & Van de Poel, Rene, Fenis, Iggway and Szmodics discuss options and moves. The other boat paddle without comment.

Crayfish goes solo, venturing to paddle under the lee of the harbour wall and tower. The three rogues hunker down, slow and deliberate strokes, keeping to the greener shallows and merging into the shadows and kelp flotsam. The tower is inhabited, you can tell by the voices carried across the waters. They speak of local tavern wenches, frontier homesteads being evacuated prior to the seasons crustacean swarms and off conscription taking 'the youth of today'. Though a pair promenade about the wall, the canoe is able to sneak underneath their view. The tower is a square edifice with the bores of bronzed cannons glinting in the moonlight peeking through the top crenellations. Perhaps a pair on each wall facing ocean and across the bight to the island.

Rounding the harbour, you wait a moment to stydy your envoirment befire crossing the harbour mouth. A view inside shows a collection of anchored fishermen's smacks and a larger coastal caravel. The glossy tri-masted vessel bobs adjacent to the tower, its' sails furled, enveloped in silence. Your infravision picks out a pair of musket carrying liveried stevedores leaning on some crates that line the dock. A dog yaps on one junk but it is not an alert sounded for your discovery. The harbour is otherwise unattended. Zoggrot & Goldie, Ferrol next actions please.