Nechtan fades into the background as only someone painted completely blue can.
Ynyr turns to the villagers and tells them that it would be the right thing to do.
"Now, do you see, that Inge has promised to not harm you and never to come back here again to cause you grief? Have you thought that, if you ask her she may even help to protect you from others who might be like her? Now, why don't you ask her to give up the horrible grief causing and, why not devote her life to helping those like you? She might do it do you not think?"
The group persuade the disheartened villagers that their captors will be seen no more, and set off for Caer Corwell.
In this relatively cosy port town, Ddraig does some hardnosed negotiation with an initially reluctant captain, whilst Nechtan scouts around town for any trouble.
Healaugh exercises his charm on cousin Askrigg, calling on a combination of family feeling and good old-fashioned halfling practicality.
"Reet now Askrigg-lad. Tha's old hand at these waters, none better to my way of thinking. Lass and crew can't be sailing cog home by thersen, but fishing boat - there's different tale. Reckon tha'd be open to fair exchange."
Darvyl attracts attention to the enterprise by being too obvious in casing the docks for hiding places.
Healaugh delves into his encyclopedic knowledge of coastal villages and potters amiably about listening to old tales of hidden fishing coves.
The halfling scouts the port for a source of supplies to equip the boat. Askrigg points him towards a few useful people.
Healaugh makes contact with some shady characters.
Fabes DM
Ddraig
Ddraig considers it wise to try and understand why Inge and the villagers are taking their respective stances:
Insight Roll: 1d20+7 = 14+7 = 21
Healaugh makes a rather ham-fisted job of persuading the locals that Inge and her remaining crew aren't really dubious characters, but the promise of a hurdy-gurdy recital increases their willingness to both believe him and leave quickly.
Healaugh realizes the hurdygurdy threat worked in part because Darvyl was standing behind the halfling, glowering at the group.
The people grin in fear at Healaugh's performance as a punch in the mouth often offends.
"Grand to see folks appreciating good music, in't it, Darvyl?"
Ynyr regales the townsfolk with tales of his love for Daelyn, suggesting that she would want them to behave appropriately.
Ddraig winces at the sound of the hurdy-gurdy. Unfortunately, his wincing seems to have been taken by the locals as threatening ...
Intimidate Roll: 1d20+11 = 8+11 = 19
He wonders why people are smiling nervously at him, and backing away ...
Fabes DM
Healaugh is slightly surprised to find that his persuasive powers improve without his hurdy-gurdy.
"Dost think I should branch out lads, play another instrument like and broaden range?"
In a quiet moment, he finds time to start composing a love song for Ynyr, deeply moved by his old friend's tenacity.
There is a faint ripple of scared applause.
"Now, is it that we are all agreed now that you should let the bad people alone to go away and never come back? So that our Healaugh can be as good as his word, should he not be? And did he not sing a good song for all of us? And isn't it just the right thing to do is to do the thing that is right and not wrong, do you see? Which is, don't you see, to be good to our word on what we said we'd do?"
Ynyr's audience are baffled.
Healaugh beams happily at his audience, oblivious to any complications at all.
"Seems tha's reet appreciative of music. Happen our Ynyr can sing song for tha. Put us in goodly frame of mind like."
Ddraig decides that glowering at people seems to have the desired effect:
Intimidate Roll: 1d20+11 = 3+11 = 14
Healaugh beams happily at his audience, oblivious to any complications at all.
"Seems tha's reet appreciative of music. Happen our Ynyr can sing song for tha. Put us in goodly frame of mind like."
(To Healaugh - sotto voce) "Now do you really think I can sing a song? Not now, at the moment, but could I do some with a bit of practise? I should write my own words, isn't that the way? And then can you put in the music, and can we send it to you-know-who as a gift?"
To Ynyr
"Aye, tha canst sing lad. Can all sing, even our Darvyl. Write song for lass if tha likes. Happen lads'll come along and help with harmony. Nechtan's got grand tenor voice when he cares to use it."
Through a variety of means, mostly it has to be said via a rather odd impromptu concert, the gang manage to get their charges off the island.
Now you just have to tell the king what happened...
"Greylan, tha's close to King. Canst help find way to explain singing tree and all?"
Greylan looks dubious, and replies, "I don't think it's the night-twist you have to worry about explaining (faery trees aren't that unusual), but rather what happened to the Luskan slavers. It was all very noble of you, and whatnot, which I know you halflings and humans in these islands place a great deal of value in, but he might be curious as to why you let them go."
"Speaking of which, I think I've had enough adventure for a while. I'll be going back to Synnoria; it was illuminating to have met all of you."
Given his aversion to pirates and slavers, Healaugh has a bad time with his conscience over letting Inge and her crew go free. In the end, it boils down to him having given his word. He doesn't reckon to be in a position to make judgments on anyone else, and he can only do what he's promised. It was a chance, but his goddess knows all about those.
Healaugh discovers that the Luskans have been raiding for slaves, and obviously needed them biddable. They met an old verbeeg who said that he had access to powerful magic that could help with this. The singing of the tree rendered the villagers docile.
Much to Inge and Sven's annoyance, this effect did not stop even when the villagers were many miles out at sea from the effect, indeed some of them died of their misery. So, the Luskans turned around to seek vengeance and an explanation from the old ogre-kin.
Ineg explains that the satyr was kept around because of his magical musical ability, and yes, he was in love with Inge, which proved a useful way of keeping him around. That and booze.