Having shopped, studied, and generally restored themselves, the party seeks aid from Welgar Brinehanded at the Temple of Procan to both provision and ask questions related to the Sailors’ Cipher they found in Sanbalet’s possession. Clues lead them to understand it’s related to a signal call/response code that the smugglers no doubt use to conduct their business safely and in secret.
Arriving at the Saltmarsh Town Council, the party discovers it is in session. Eliander Fireborn first discourages them from interrupting the council but eventually relents. They find the council arguing about the direction King Scotti wants to take Saltmarsh, with goals to use the proceeds from the Copperlocks mining interest, as well as taxes generated from Saltmarsh’s continued growth, to transform the village into a stable naval base of operations and an anchor for pursuing an end to the Unknown. It is clear that Eda Owenland and Gellan Primewater represent the Traditionalists, who would see Saltmarsh continue as it has been, while Eliander Fireborn and Manistrad Copperlocks are invested in the village’s growth and adherence to the King’s desires.
The party informs them of the smuggling operation, earning the council’s respect, though they grow suspicious of Gellan Primewater as he appears eager to quickly move past any details of the operation itself. They are paid their rewards from Anders Solomor for clearing up the mystery of the Haunted Mansion and offered a contract by Copperlocks to deal with the smuggling operation once and for all, for the benefit of all of Saltmarsh.
Shardona Lightbright and Beldroth tail Gellan back to his mansion, while the rest of the party prepares and heads toward the Empty Net. At the Empty Net, Durik Ironhide impresses the crowd by buying them drinks, earning their favor and shaming the tavern owner, Kreb Shenker. The party meets with two guards provided by Eliander Fireborn and sets out in search of the smugglers.
Arriving at the Haunted Mansion, the party decides to disguise themselves as smugglers and uses the smugglers pinnace, and Sailors’ Cipher to signal the smugglers and arrange a rendezvous. Gaining entry to the ship, they mount a surprise ambush on a lone sailor. They discover a group of lizardmen sleeping on board the ship and attempt to assassinate them. Sadly, they fail to seize the moment, and the noise they make causes the smugglers to investigate. An epic battle ensues with the smugglers, resulting in the near-death of Barrister Alemen as the party defeats them and captures the captain. Fearing that Barrister was dead and wanting to exact revenge, Beldroth kills the captain in cold blood. A search of the ship yields two wonders: a sea elf named Oceanus, who was tracking a strange arms shipment the smugglers were loading, and the shipment of weapons itself. It is learned that the lizardmen are purchasing large quantities of weapons, likely to mount an offensive against the local inhabitants. The party returns to Saltmarsh to inform the Town Council and prepare for what comes next.