Des Serret and Hee'la speak in the stowaway cutscene even if they died in the battle with Gulch, though their portraits do not appear. Emma also makes reference to Silithis coming aboard with a group of warriors even if Silithis is alone.
(Emma also makes reference to having a "substantial force" on board the ship, even if the party has been whittled down to nothing.)
Two warriors taking on entire armies alone? Sounds like a substantial force to me!