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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 911945" data-attributes="member: 6294">Kull's 3rd Report - Part 1SaltmarshNew YearTo:  Bishop-General Kartrak VisehartReport from Kull RedfistSir,The smuggling operation has been crushed, but a greater danger threatens Saltmarsh: a threat which, no doubt, would have remained completely unknown had it not been for my arrival.  It is quite clear that the current authorities of the township have neither the ability nor the inclination to administer it in a manner that will provide proper security.  Clearly there needs to be much greater discipline established.In our most recent meeting with the council, I made clear my contempt for their inept sheriff, and my belief that their lax behaviour has led them to the brink of destruction.  Faced with the evidence that had been found on the smugglers' vessel, they finally seem sufficiently shaken to listen to sound advice.But I should present the events as they occurred, rather than leap to the conclusion.As expected, the smugglers' vessel returned with the full moon, the time when they would have the most natural light available with which to work.  They signalled the house in the manner described by the documents found in the cellar, and I responded in kind.  Promptly, the vessel flashed the signal to approach, in order for the unloading of smuggled goods to begin.My strategy for the operation - constrained as I was by the limited support available - was simple.  We would approach as close as possible to the vessel in a longboat we had found in the caves.  Then, once we were within range of the ship, the druid would invoke an obscuring mist, so that we could attempt to board without enduring a hail of arrows.  I did not like to trust so much to the druid's tricks, but my own magic would be needed for the fight itself.The gravest threat to the success of the mission was lack of numbers.  Brodnak, apparently sulking that we had gone 'adventuring' without him, remained ensconced with his camp follower, and refused to emerge.  The village - whom we were acting to assist - could offer us only two excisemen as assistance.  A mission that required soldiers - or at least the sheriff - and they offered us tax collectors.Having no desire to be encumbered with two non-combatants, I had directed the excisemen to stand away with their ship, observing the fight from a distance.  They would be signalled once the battle was over.It took some time to row out to the smugglers' vessel: I freely admit that I am no trained seaman, and my skill with oars is lacking.  As we drew close, one of the men on deck called out to us, and I whispered the command for the druid to act.I must confess, he completed this task with commendable skill: a blanket of mist dropped swiftly across both us and the near side of the ship, allowing us to row on until our boat scraped against the other vessel's hull.  Above, I could hear the cries of alarm as the smugglers readied themselves: evidently the druid had not acted quite quickly enough, and they had recognised that we were not their companions.As if seeking to redeem his failure, the druid was the first to clamber up the side of the enemy ship, disappearing into the mists above.  It proved an ill-fated move: within seconds, he cried out, and there was a heavy thud as his body struck the deck.Zalich, evidently deciding the druid's route was not safe, cast a spell and then ran along the side of the boat, his bare feet somehow clinging to the wood.  For myself, I quickly climbed onto the vessel, driving back the smuggler who had felled the druid.  Troilan - why is it always her? - joined me, with Julianne not far behind.There was a brief lull; a few arrows fell near me, as the smugglers fired blindly into the mist, but nothing more.  I ignored them and bent to heal the druid's wounds.  I have no liking for him or his foolish faith, but he would at least distract one or two of the smugglers for a time, once the battle was properly joined.One of the smugglers cast a spell into the mist, felling Troilan and Julianne, but it was nothing more than a sleeping charm, and I soon shook them both awake.  Meanwhile, Zalich had run back along the rail of the ship to find us.  Hearing from him that the enemy were lined along the far railing, I readied a spell, directing Zalich to move forward under its protection, and unleash one of his waves of flame against the smugglers.The plan was interrupted, however, when a cry rose from the smugglers' leader:  "Charge!".</blockquote>

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