You continue to row towards the tender.
Spoiler: ServiusYou realize you can read the name printed on the side of the tender. It's not much of a name -- a series of letters and numbers -- but the strange thing is that you can read the squiggly illithid writing.
You make it within 15 feet of the tender when a single orc emerges from the shell and out onto the deck of the tender, wearing uniform coveralls and carrying a rod with a flanged head. His hand is to one ear and he is speaking in an unfamiliar language. There is a small gelatinous homonculus following behind him, tight at his heel.
Spoiler: ServiusThe languge is incomprehensible to you, so you're not under the effect of Comprehend Languages...
Spoiler: NibumNibum, you dimly recognize the language as similar to Goblin and attempt to extract some kind of sense from it.
Spoiler: Int Check 10+"No, I don't have eyes on it, I'm going to check now--"
He stops stockstill and stares at your boat, which must be pretty inexplicable from his perspective. You have a brief moment to act before he can finish his sentence or otherwise take action; only Fork is swift enough to take advantage of it.
Spoiler: SummaryINITIATIVE
16 - Fork
15 - Orc
11 - Cocytus
8 - Nibum
4 - Ttharg
2 - Servius