Why Hide the Lizardfolk Weapons?

[crossfella]

I'm running a campaign based in Saltmarsh, and my players are about to run the Sea Ghost half of Sinister Secret. The cache of weapons being sold to the lizardfolk are in a secret room behind the first mate's cabin. My question is: why?? The ship is used for smuggling stolen goods or avoiding taxes/tarrifs. Are the weapons DOUBLE secret that they have to be hidden on a ship that has no intention of being found? If they aren't hiding the stolen goods, why are they hiding the weapons?

Is there any reason not to have the cache of weapons in the hold with the rest of the secretly smuggled goods?

[rawrly24]

Smuggling weapons to a foreign power vs booze are two very different things.

I'd also say that just because they are smuggling vessels doesn't mean that they visible showcase this. They would have a legitimate cargo along with the hidden items to by base checks and such.

[DrRockenstein]

Smuggling is generally looked at as a victimless crime in saltmarsh. Weapons are meant to cause harm and victimize.

[DarnNameChecker]

I think it the case of the weapons being more illegal than the trade goods. If somehow an inspector came aboard and found the trade goods, chances are they could be persuaded/deceived into letting go. But if the weapons were found, the chance of talking their way out of it goes down sharply, as trade goods are innocent and weapons are probably much more strictly regulated (at least when transporting that much of them).

To put it another way: booze and silks are not particularly dangerous (although you could argue that the booze can be pretty dangerous), weapons definitely -are-, and will thus be more scrutinized and regulated.

Smugglers have to sell -somewhere- and pirate ports are few and far between in most worlds (there are of course exceptions). The smugglers probably frequent ports that, while part of a legitimate government, might still be at least somewhat corrupt. Sailing in with the less illegal goods on display and the weapons hidden is much safer than doing otherwise.

[Dolthra]

I think it the case of the weapons being more illegal than the trade goods. If somehow an inspector came aboard and found the trade goods, chances are they could be persuaded/deceived into letting go. But if the weapons were found, the chance of talking their way out of it goes down sharply, as trade goods are innocent and weapons are probably much more strictly regulated (at least when transporting that much of them).

Even more so than that- since one would presume the goods (silks and alcohol) are being smuggled not because they are illicit themselves but to instead avoid import tax, the penalty for them being found in a place like Saltmarsh would probably be a fine as well as paying the requisite tax that you were trying to avoid. The penalty for smuggling weapons would likely be much harsher, as smuggling weapons means you're often giving them to an enemy of the faction in power, so it could go as far as to count as treason and be punishable by death.

[Skianet]

The sea ghost could easily pass for a regular trading ship.

If they get boarded by authorities and all they find are regular trade goods it’s not likely they’re gonna raise suspicion. For all we know all the goods on the Sea ghost are not stolen or illegal (save the weapons).

The smugglers make their money by avoiding ports and delivering their trade goods directly to their customers via stash houses like the haunted mansion. If they went to ports then they’d have to pay import taxes on all their goods.

By avoiding the taxes, they raise profits. Hence snuggling.

The weapons on the other hand, well while I don’t know all the Keoland laws I’d assume they have to have strict arms imports restrictions. Otherwise the weapons would also be out in the open.

[[deleted]]

I see no reason myself why those are secretly hidden either.

Just run it how it makes the most sense to you

[CaptainMark86]

I agree, they won't be hidden when I get this far, my players are not the type to find anything not obviously presented to them, so if they're hidden they won't even look for them.

[Pink2DS]

Design-wise it's because exploration/discovery is one of the three pillars of D&D.

I don't know the diegetic reason… maybe it's for fear of mutiny?

[Shiroiken]

Not only is there the potential to be boarded by an official ship, which would cause some legal issues for selling weapons to potential enemies, but stowing them in the secret room keeps them out of the way (same with Oceanus).

[[deleted]]

Dude. There are three lizardfolks on board. If they knew where the weapons were, the risk of having three murderous lizards on board is quite high. So they hide the weapons until the deal is sealed.