After the meal, Dermot, Darrow and Shanni took the opportunity to question Red Ortho some more below decks about the slavers’ activities. He confirmed that they would normally take their “cargo” to Westgate once they had a full load on the island. In order to avoid attention, the slaves would be drugged and taken off the ship either in sacks or crates. Red Ortho claimed not to know anything about vampires or how Tuli was made, then observed it was time to get the ship moving again. Once back on the main deck, Red Ortho moved to the ship’s wheel and took charge like he still ran things, yelling at Barzog to go with Tomas to the rigging and telling the watchers to immediately advise of any obstacles they saw in the water. The skies cleared and Red Ortho gave a loud command to let out the sails, which started the ship moving with a jerk.
Shortly afterwards, Darrow spotted a boulder off the port side and called it out, prompting Red Ortho to adjust course and halt letting the sails out further. He gritted his teeth and put his shoulder into turning the ship’s wheel as Darrow observed the ship passing close by the granite rock. Shanni reported no obstacles at the bow, while Dermot was confused by Red Ortho’s request for a depth reading off the starboard side. Tomas went to check and after a moment called out four fathoms.
This appeared to satisfy Red Ortho, who announced they were clear of the island and asked if he should set a course for Westgate. Darrow confirmed this, although he said he was still interested in going to Turnton, where Baron Pahar would be able to take care of the former slaves. One of the armed former prisoners volunteered to keep watch on deck along with Tomas, while the adventurers went below again to discuss their plans.
By mid-morning, the ship was moving smartly across the sea and Red Ortho predicted that they would make Westgate harbor around nightfall. Darrow had his enthusiasm level raised by Red Ortho mentioning pirates in the waters, although it was dampened by a caveat that it would just be bad luck if a pirate ship found them. Kain found it surprising that the slavers did not have any business agreements with the pirate vessels, for example to purchase the surviving crews of captured vessels, an idea which got Red Ortho to thinking. Rahnee briefly stuck her head out of the cabin area while the pirate discussion was going on, then retreated back down to continue her convalescence.
Although earlier Red Ortho had ordered Barzog to let out the sails, to take advantage of the sunny skies and brisk winds, a storm started to blow and he had the half-orc pull the sails in again, cursing their luck. As wind and rain began to lash the deck, the adventurers decided to go below to the cabins, helped along by Red Ortho’s pointed suggestion that lubbers should vacate the area.
The five checked on their other slaver captive Pincer, who had recovered something of his sense of humor at his predicament. The group then turned to discuss their planned course of action after arriving in Westgate. Aerikoth pointed out that Turnton was eight hours of travel outside the city; the wizard did not want to detour there and delay their search for the Astorians’ lair, arguing that the Westgate authorities should be competent enough to take care of the freed slaves. A quick poll by Dermot showed that the ex-slaves were looking forward to returning to their families. As Aerikoth noted, the slaves had been taken from various places along the Dragon Coast.
After further discussion, the adventurers decided to ask Pincer some more questions, having decided to take him along to the forest lair. Shanni asked him if the slavers had any way of communicating with their base. Pincer denied having any magical communications and was startled when Shanni asked about any messenger birds. The former slaver gestured around him and asked if they saw any birds. Kain admitted having the idea earlier about the birds, self-deprecatingly. Although Shanni pressed Pincer further, he declared that he knew nothing about any birds.
Pincer was, however, more helpful in describing the Astorians’ base in the forest. He mentioned there were normally around two dozen members there. He described a maze of shrubbery in the forest, with a hidden entrance leading to tunnels beneath. He also mentioned there were various traps, as well as guards defending the entrance. Pincer said he had been escorted there once and he considered it a deadly place. The information extracted from Pincer gave the party plenty to discuss about their plans to assault the lair, as well as what they should do with Red Ortho once they reached Westgate.
Shortly afterwards, Darrow spotted a boulder off the port side and called it out, prompting Red Ortho to adjust course and halt letting the sails out further. He gritted his teeth and put his shoulder into turning the ship’s wheel as Darrow observed the ship passing close by the granite rock. Shanni reported no obstacles at the bow, while Dermot was confused by Red Ortho’s request for a depth reading off the starboard side. Tomas went to check and after a moment called out four fathoms.
This appeared to satisfy Red Ortho, who announced they were clear of the island and asked if he should set a course for Westgate. Darrow confirmed this, although he said he was still interested in going to Turnton, where Baron Pahar would be able to take care of the former slaves. One of the armed former prisoners volunteered to keep watch on deck along with Tomas, while the adventurers went below again to discuss their plans.
By mid-morning, the ship was moving smartly across the sea and Red Ortho predicted that they would make Westgate harbor around nightfall. Darrow had his enthusiasm level raised by Red Ortho mentioning pirates in the waters, although it was dampened by a caveat that it would just be bad luck if a pirate ship found them. Kain found it surprising that the slavers did not have any business agreements with the pirate vessels, for example to purchase the surviving crews of captured vessels, an idea which got Red Ortho to thinking. Rahnee briefly stuck her head out of the cabin area while the pirate discussion was going on, then retreated back down to continue her convalescence.
Although earlier Red Ortho had ordered Barzog to let out the sails, to take advantage of the sunny skies and brisk winds, a storm started to blow and he had the half-orc pull the sails in again, cursing their luck. As wind and rain began to lash the deck, the adventurers decided to go below to the cabins, helped along by Red Ortho’s pointed suggestion that lubbers should vacate the area.
The five checked on their other slaver captive Pincer, who had recovered something of his sense of humor at his predicament. The group then turned to discuss their planned course of action after arriving in Westgate. Aerikoth pointed out that Turnton was eight hours of travel outside the city; the wizard did not want to detour there and delay their search for the Astorians’ lair, arguing that the Westgate authorities should be competent enough to take care of the freed slaves. A quick poll by Dermot showed that the ex-slaves were looking forward to returning to their families. As Aerikoth noted, the slaves had been taken from various places along the Dragon Coast.
After further discussion, the adventurers decided to ask Pincer some more questions, having decided to take him along to the forest lair. Shanni asked him if the slavers had any way of communicating with their base. Pincer denied having any magical communications and was startled when Shanni asked about any messenger birds. The former slaver gestured around him and asked if they saw any birds. Kain admitted having the idea earlier about the birds, self-deprecatingly. Although Shanni pressed Pincer further, he declared that he knew nothing about any birds.
Pincer was, however, more helpful in describing the Astorians’ base in the forest. He mentioned there were normally around two dozen members there. He described a maze of shrubbery in the forest, with a hidden entrance leading to tunnels beneath. He also mentioned there were various traps, as well as guards defending the entrance. Pincer said he had been escorted there once and he considered it a deadly place. The information extracted from Pincer gave the party plenty to discuss about their plans to assault the lair, as well as what they should do with Red Ortho once they reached Westgate.