Raid on Nassau: 'Cockleshell Heroes'.

[Leitz]

"The others can probably do the job."Stubble said, without stopping what paddling he could do. "Yet, the Captain is very hopeful for this endeavor. I suggest we press on as if the others are lost. That makes us the reserves, unless something happens. If we see the others are in need, when we get there, we can press to everyone's advantage."

[Bluehorse]

Team Codfish: Rexlin, Fishy, & Alderhay

Rexlin

Checks his compass often and turns the canoe in as much of a straight line as he can towards their goal, trying to cut time and hopefully ride the surf a little to get back on track. Turning to his team as well as the other if they are in earshot. Looks like we will be playing backup on this one unless we can speed this up. Hopefully the tide will be in our favor.

[GreyWolfVT]

Pocc see's Rexlin turn Codfish's canoe and adjust to make the same change in his paddling.

[onlyme]

Geoffrey nods and whispers his agreement, knowing that voices carry longer out here. He adjusts his paddling as well.

[Stirling]

Szmodics

He has smuggled his crossbow aboard should the need arise. He follows the direction of the lead canoe. The strange figure (a crabman?), might just want recognition, a friendly wave back or more. The rogue would rather not let our presence be noted and this person / creature might alert authorities or not. May be he is the hangman for the unfortunate gallows puppets. A warden of the island? I would think any bandit group so close to the settlements would be rooted out and dealt with. Still we might paddle into the night and creek shadows before any party is sent to investigate us.

So Szmodics is happy to press on around the island and perhaps head towards the right hand side Lisbon Creek.

[Rex]

Fenis

Fenis quietly paddles along.

[OGRE MAGE]

Siggard studies the oceans surface behind them, still unable to locate the last two boats. Knowing the thieves will need to move slowly through the populated areas, he wonders if they should wait for a short time to see if the stragglers show up.

When he sees the strange crabman hailing them from the shore of the island, he looks to the other boat and exaggerates an obvious shrugging motion. He steers his small craft slowly towards the figure, assuming that anyone using and sitting by a fire must be more human than beast.

Sig waves back as they get closer, unwilling to call out in the night. We whispers to the others. “Keep an eye out for those other boats! This guy might know something that will help us.”

[Ahlmzhad]

Rene

Rene locks in on the creature on shore and paddles for him.

[Spearmint]

Canoeing the South Bight. Andros.

Crayfish: Zoggrot, Ferrol and Goldie shelter the canoe under the shadow of the harbour wall. Peeking around the tip of the wall to view into the harbour and the array of fishermen's vessels and the larger merchant caravel. The local militia lazily patrol from the watch tower and jetty promenades. The hillside above has dotted shanty cottages and more luxurious villas, most with shuttered windows which leak faint lantern light as speckles on the terraced allotments. The pair of musket men lean on quayside stacks of crates, smoking tobacco and currently unaware they are observed. A dimmed lantern dangles from the aft mast, shedding light on the top deck of the stern. Below on the main deck a door opens and a small number of crew exit. They are dressed in simple sailor garb and look set for a night on the town. You pick that up as the one unseen man below deck bellows for them to return with a keg or two for him. The barking dog harassed their departure for the settlement with an evening chorus of yaps. next actions please to press on down the creek or explore the harbour.

Codfish and Coalfish: you are a few minutes behind the advanced canoes so I will pause you on hold until I can resolve their current actions in case this impacts your next moves around the headland.

Catfish, Cuttlefish and Coalfish: the decision is made to turn closer to the shore and riding in with the waves, the canoe inches up on the sandy beach. The strange humanoid figure who hailed you remains wary of your presence on land but hops of the rock and wades knees high out to get closer. He is a strange figure indeed. Humanoid with a hybrid face. As to the rest of him you can't tell if he is several creatures put together or one strange semblance of a mixed race? One leg which initially looks as though it bore a stump reveals a cloven foot like a goat. The figures left arm holds a scissor like claw. The mongrol has a feline alley cat head and face with a half cheek and forehead in leathery reptilian skin.
He bites through the neck if a glass bottle, spitting fragment shards out and offering the libation to you.

"They says I look better in the moonlight. Can't say they're wrong. Still fare better than those bastards yonder. Not much for conversation these days but they left behind a treat to drown my sorrows and sweeten my comforts."

The bottle contains a rare and quality rum.

next actions please.

[shaidar]

Team Codfish: Rexlin, Fishy, & Alderhay

Adlerhay

"Perhaps if we take it in turns for short burst of high-speed paddling we can catch up"

[OGRE MAGE]

Siggard stands up in the beached canoe to stretch out his back, keeping his movements as unassuming and neutral as possible. He holds his empty palm up to the creature and shakes his head.

“No thanks, friend! But don’t let us stop ye from having a belt er two ta relax. We means ye no harm, as long as that sentiment is mutual! I’d be Siggard Hagslayer, an these here scurvy dogs is me mates. We’ve seen plenty worse then ye in our travels. Why I myself killed a nasty looking Sea Hag, single handedly. And she was a might nastier to set eyes upon then ye are.”

He looks to the macabre gallows and then back to the freakish being again.

“Say, those chaps ain’t lookin too good. What’s happened here? Is this yer island? Do ye have a name, friend?”

The ships mage continues to keep a wary eye out for any shenanigans that this creature might have in store, looking around to his crew mates to see if they have anything to add.

[Ahlmzhad]

Rene,

Listens to the strange creature, but lets Siggard handle the talk. He does what he knows best, he quickly works to beach and secure the canoe. And will look at and for the other boats.

[GreyWolfVT]

Pocc continues to paddle along and adds a but more energy and effort to try and catch up.

[Rex]

Fenis

Fenis keeps paddling.

[Monsieur Rose]

Ferrol

Ferrol watches and listens as the ship starts emptying. He points to the caravel and rubs his fingers together. Then he raises his eyebrows at Zoggrot and shrugs. He quickly turns to non-verbal cant: "What do you think? The others are a ways behind us. We may have some time."

[Zhym]

"It's tempting," whispers Zoggrot. "Usually, I'd say we scope it out. But we're on a mission. I don't want to jeopardize it by going off on a frolic and detour. Best to be about our business."

[Hotgoblin]

Iggway paddles along as she watches the other group talking with the humanoid on the beach...she breaks the silence...I think the Mage took too big of a toke off the pipe before settling out on this quest!

[Monsieur Rose]

Ferrol

Ferrol nods, acquiescing to the veterans' command. "On the way back, then." He responds with a wink.

[Stirling]

Szmodics stops paddling at the rear and hefts his loaded crossbow over the side of the canoe and pulls a snipers beam on the mongrol clawed man. Any false move and he will fire.

[Spearmint]

post being edited. Will repost later tonight