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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rafael Ceurdepyr" data-source="post: 1503958" data-attributes="member: 16566">Part 2, in which we outwit a fearsome pirateAt 8 p.m., on the 28th of Fairwind, Raef, Levan and Ari show up for their appointment.  The dining room of the Inn is upscale, catering to a wealthy merchant clientele.  After a sumptuous meal, Ravenscore tells them the proposition.  He says that a dwarf, Ulgar Hearthbreaker, was traveling to the ACS when he was captured by the infamous orc pirate Redbones, whose emblem is a black field with two crossed red eels.  A ransom was offered, but the dwarves of Raelsport—normally fiercely loyal to one another—were not forthcoming.  A captain named Keller (whom Raef and friends have heard of as a smuggler) is delivering gresh to the pirate hideout, and is willing to take early retirement to take them in and rescue the dwarf, who possesses some knowledge of dwarven craftsmanship that the faction needs.  Ravenscore will pay them 1000 gp each on delivery and see to it that they have no more problems with the Black Watch.  Raef, Levan and Ari agree to Ravenscore’s proposition, despite the risks of crossing a pirate with a reputation as fearsome as Redbones'.The three adventurers meet Captain Keller and set sail, reaching the pirate cove about midnight.  A hidden beach gleams in the light of flaming torches, stretching beneath an immensely wide cavern.  To the right is an array of tables surrounded by half a dozen carousing pirates.  A tunnel pierces the rear wall of the cave to the left.  Redbones is apparently away, fortunately, and the renegades are ruled over in his absence by a formidable mountain of a woman.Ari, Raef and Levan pretend to help the crew unload the barrels of highly alcoholic gresh, then slip away toward the tunnels in search of Ulgar.  Raef stands guard at the mouth of the tunnel while Levan and Ari sneak through the tunnel past crude but sturdy cell doors until they find one inhabited by the surly, one-armed dwarf.  Enduring a steady stream of oaths and criticism from the dwarf, Levan and Ari at last break open the lock and free him.  As they prepare to leave, Ulgar demands they retrieve his arm and his possessions as well, locked in a storage room at the end of the hall.  Raef calls at them to hurry, that someone is likely to come along soon.  Ulgar’s arm proves to be a cleverly contrived mechanical device, tucked into a wooden case.  Levan picks up several boxes containing Ulgar’s belongings. The dwarf tells them to take whatever else they want, so Ari grabs a handful of coins, and they dash toward the mouth of the tunnel with Raef.  They start across the dark beach toward the ship when a drunken guard reels toward them.  Before he can alert anyone, Ari cuts his throat, mildly amazed that she feels little remorse over her second killing.  They hustle Ulgar aboard ship—and realize that Captain Keller, who has been drinking with the pirates, is still on shore.  Raef scrambles back, practiced smile flashing at the lieutenant, and reports to Keller that they’re ready to leave, nearly dragging him onto the ship.  Just as they sail away from the shelter of the cover, the sails of Redbones' ship are seen silhouetted against the sky.Keller lets the adventurers off the ship, saying he will deliver Ulgar.  The next day, they meet Ravenscore.  The merchant praises their efforts, paying them handsomely and offering them work at some future date if they're interested.  He mentions in passing that Captain Keller hasn't shown up since he delivered the dwarf, and his ship is still in the harbor.  With their new-found wealth, Raef, Levan and Ari rent a mid-Hill house in a fairly respectable neighborhood.</blockquote>

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