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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Joshua Randall" data-source="post: 745373" data-attributes="member: 7737">If anyone is curious, I've also got a <a href="http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42550" target="_blank">Rogues Gallery</a> thread for some of the PCs and NPCs.= = =Quaddla was aghast at the thought of needless bloodshed, but the others relished the opportunity to get revenge for their humiliation aboard the Cardonal. Bilt negotiated another advance on Alessandro's "I owe you," netting the Kestrels another 150 Crowns. The group ventured into Lof proper, finding it a dreary place. Most of the citizens were in a sullen mood, and the shopkeepers were utterly unwilling to haggle. Nevertheless, Banda purchased several vial of Laumspur (an herb with healing properties). Madrak and Quaddla pooled their resources to trade up to better armor. Madrak chose a used but serviceable breastplate, while Quaddla bought a simple suit of chainmail. Bilt was content with his gear, saying he had all that he needed.Morning came sharp and cold. A layer of frost covered everything as the party marched out to the old alchemist's house. They were met by two men in the baron's livery who escorted them through the decrepit mansion. The floorboards creaked ominously, causing Madrak to step gingerly for fear of plunging through them. But the soldiers negotiated a safe path to the basement, where the Kestrels were surprised to find a barracks area, and beyond that, a small series of caverns. Twisting their way through the tunnels, the group at least reached a cave open to the sea. It commanded a view of the ocean and was abutted by a small sandy beach, upon which a small boat was drawn up.A man in an officer's uniform approached. "I am sergeant Tomás Estutlé," he announced grandly in a drawling voice. "I understand his lordship wants you to assist in this operation.""That's not how we heard it," Bilt said. "The baron put us in charge."Quaddla shook her head and sighed, motioning for Bilt to be quiet. "Of course we will assist you, Tomás. What is your plan?"The sergeant pointed out to sea. "When the pirate ship arrives tonight, we will signal it to begin unloading its cargo. Then we will row out in that boat" – he pointed at the dinghy – "and order them to surrender."There was a moment of stunned silence while the Kestrels absorbed the plan. "That's it?" Madrak scoffed. "Just row out there and ask them to turn themselves in?"Tomás blinked. "Have you a better idea?" he drawled.The group debated tactics for the better part of the morning. Banda was quite worried about the "potent spells" of the pirate mage, Porfirio. (Note: these awe-inspiring spells consisted of daze and glitterdust.) Quaddla was dubious about rowing up to the ship openly, until Tomás pointed out that they could row around behind the Sea Ghost ship, thereby taking them unawares.There was just one problem: the dinghy could only accommodate six passengers – and there were ten people present between the Kestrels and the baron’s men. As if to compound their space issues, at that moment Tomás' two guards returned, leading a stout, well-armed dwarf into the sea cave."Brogun! I wondered when you would show up," said Quaddla. The other dwarf grinned at Quaddla. "I had some church business to attend to in Hammerdal," he replied, "but I heard the Kestrels were in this area, so here I am."After proper introductions had been made, the group continued debating tactics. Tomás finally agreed to send for another boat, as well as several crossbows: Quaddla wanted to have the advantage of ranged weapons. At last, their preparations made, the Kestrels settled down to rest before nightfall.= = =Note: there was some disruption in the group, so I will fast-forward through the boarding of the Sea Ghost vessel.The Kestrel's plan was for Tomás and his men to serve as a decoy, signaling the pirate ship while approaching it slowly from shore. Meanwhile, the Kestrels would row around behind the ship and board it by stealth. Their plan worked out fairly well: Bilt spotted an open porthole in the stern of the ship and was able to clamber aboard into an empty cabin. After the other Kestrels joined him, they peaked out the cabin door, spotting a couple of pirates standing near the rail.Quaddla and Brogun charged the pirates and knocked them into the ocean. Madrak, Banda, and Bilt raced out of the cabin and each engaged in his own small skirmish. After a lengthy battle (Note: 18 rounds!) the Kestrels were victorious. The captured the pirate captain, Sigurd, and found the mage Porfirio hiding in the crow's nest. Tomás and his men arrived to take the pirates into custody, and the Kestrels congratulated themselves on a job well done.Searching the ship, they found a prisoner in a secret compartment. Judging him to be some sort of aquatic creature, they set him free, being unable to communicate with him. Strangely, the Kestrels then ceased their search, and so missed out on finding the secret cache of weapons, or on looting the ship's valuables.The next morning, Baron da Silva summoned the Kestrels. His men had worked all night, tearing the Sea Ghost vessel apart to discover its secrets: the weapons cache as well as some curious semi-literate documents requesting "an additional shipment at the agreed terms." Da Silva believed the Sea Ghosts were running weapons to the Ice Barbarians who, according to a map found on the ship, must be camped at a spot up the coast. Before the Baron could order the Kestrels to investigate this, a messenger burst into the room."There's been a cave-in in Nosop!"</blockquote>

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