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Charging up the plank, Umaro shoves right past the man, while Kryssa steps on him, knocking is peddled wares into the sea. Seeing you come aboard aggressively, many of the crew simply drop their boxes and run, jumping into the water.
The captain advances, quickly drawing a hidden crossbow and fires it at Maldoc before reinforcements can come.
The other, reacting quickly, and seemingly much better warriors than the captain, surprisingly, charge, drawing rapiers.
Round 1
Dhampir Cpt (), Dhampir A (charge, ), and Dhampir B (charge, )
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Maldoc (-13), Umaro (-4), Sarephta (), Kryssa (), and Rhuul ()
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Advancing with his axe in hand, Rhuul calls out as the first man goes overboard.
"Did you hear the one about the red ship that hit the blue ship? They both sank."
He pauses, testing the swing of his waraxe.
"And the crews were marooned."
An evil glint enters his eye. "Time to maroon these bits of flotsome."
Actually, given my initiative, that bonus will be for next round.
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Kryssa likewise attacks back, then steps back, allowing others to get aboard.
Looks like you are really going to need Rhuul's help this fight.
The Dhampir's recoil from the display of positive energies, but the press the attack.
Ruovarn Krillis, the Dhampir captain attempts to tumble past both Umaro and Kryssa to flank with his crewman, dropping his crossbow and drawing a scimitar as he does.
Just barely making it, he stabs at Maldoc.
Round 2
Dhampir Cpt (), Dhampir A ( ), and Dhampir B ( )
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Maldoc (-17), Umaro (-10), Sarephta (), Kryssa (), and Rhuul ()
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Maldoc stabs the captain, cutting into the man's heart then unleashing his held magic, causing him to fall dead, his small wound steaming from the arcane energy.
Round 2
Dhampir A ( ), and Dhampir B ( )
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Maldoc (-17), Umaro (-10), Sarephta (), Kryssa (), and Rhuul ()
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Seeing his allies fallen, and the rest of the crew abandon ship, he throws down his rapier and surrenders before he takes more wounds.
"I surrender. Who are you and what do you want."
ocean.
Round 3
Dhampir B (-9)
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Maldoc (-17), Umaro (-10), Sarephta (), Kryssa (), and Rhuul ()
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Within about 10 minutes, the local authorities come by to investigate reports of shouting and fighting at the docks (either taking into custody the prisoner, or cleaning up his remains. Below deck you find an assortment of slaves, . You also find a letter in the captain's quarters that is exactly what you need.
Ruovarn,
I hope this letter and the latest shipment of “supplies” reaches you well, my lovely helper. I would write more, but I ’m afraid I have a speech to give in but a few days—as well you know—and I must practice it if I am to convince these blasted bureaucrats of the Pathfinders’
treachery. They won’t abolish themselves from our fair city, after all.
It is not signed, but bears the Spider customary seal, a glyph with the likeness of a spider.
Knowing that the Spider is now actively participating in the slave trade here in Andoran is a first step. You also know that he or she is actively focusing on the Pathfinder Society, trying to get them outlawed in Andoran.
From here, the only other lead you have is to check out the Captive Audience. It takes you a bit of time to deal with the town guard, then find the way, but as you arrive, dead tired at this point, you push through. The Theater District of Almas is filled with old architecture and buildings of a traditional style, save for one: a gaudy, tall structure painted several shades of bright green, everburning torches on either side of the face of the building illuminating the words “The Captive Audience,” painted in overly elaborate, nearly unreadable letters. You have heard that may have heard the rumors that the Captive Audience is putting on another one of its extravagant plays in a few days, and the actors have nearly been worked to death in the process. This isn’t at all unusual for the establishment; the theater is known the city over for its eccentric and demanding director, Senlokto Boraminder, who has always been a bit on the odd side, but has been acting even loonier than usual since the recent renovation to the Captive Audience about a year ago.
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Probably trying to say that their plays are that good, but once you know about their side business. It takes on a new meaning.
Umaro pulls out a small tree branch bearing a single leaf. Touching it to his chest and speaking a soft word, his wounds begin to close up.
Maybe we should see if there is a side or back entrance.
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From outside, you can hear the sounds of the actors inside, though there is no actual performance tonight. The door is open, so you enter. Yero directs the performers for the latest play, an indecipherable piece vaguely titled Dweomer Blade. He wears armor and directs with a longsword, pointing at the actors and the stage with his weapon as he shouts commands and berates his workers, demanding seemingly impossible feats of them repeatedly. The actors all wear various pieces of armor and wield weapons, though these offer but vague clues as to what the obscure play is actually about.
Yero welcomes you as you arrive, though he has no idea who you are, and tells you pointedly that he needs a break from “working with these amateurs” anyway.
"Come. Lets retire to my quarters for a bit. I need a break FROM THESE HACKS, anyway, and a distraction would do well."
If you follow him, he actually leads you to a small section of the dressing rooms, which apparently serve as his private room as we as office. "Ok, lady's and gents. What can I do for you?"
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"Speaking. But I don't recall any business with you? I could certainly use some performers that have a clue what they are doing. He stops, putting up both hands to make a square between his fingers and thumbs to look over Umaro. "Yes, yes. I can certainly see you on stage. We will need to shave the left side of your hair off. I'm thinking, yes, an illiterate porter. With a gimp leg. . ."
To Maldoc and Kryssa, "Hum. It's going to take a little work,. . . but don't worry about that. Certainly a new wardrobe. Especially this one. What do you even call, . . . those? Nevermind, nevermind that. I'm sure we can find something."
Over to Sarephta, smacking the side of her hip and upper arm, (testing her muscle mass, not smacking her rear), that stops for a few moments in thought, "AH!, I have it. Never liked Mykka anyway. He's a hack. You can be the Prince of Augustana. Shave that beard down a bit."
Finally at Rhuul, "How do you feel about a nude scene? Tasteful, of course. It's al about character development. . ."
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Rhuul too is interested in the director.
I wonder if he is just playing for time?
"I've got no problems with nude scenes. Just so long as you don't have me bathe a cat in it!" laughs Rhuul, trying to put the director at ease.
"Perhaps you could give me a tour of your fine establishment?"
And let the others search your office while I and you are out.
He gestures to the other pathfinders
"I'm afraid these hethans don't appreciate good theatre, we can leave them here while I hear about your plans for putting on "The Prince of Augustana."
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To Maldoc and Kryssa, "Hum. It's going to take a little work,. . . but don't worry about that. Certainly a new wardrobe. Especially this one. What do you even call, . . . those? Nevermind, nevermind that. I'm sure we can find something."
"They're called 'chaps'. I don't go on stage without them. It's in my contract rider."
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What a strange little man. Is he up to something or just insane?
Umaro pulls back the hood of his cloak, revealing a freshly shaved head, the whirling design of his tattoo disappearing beneath his collar.
It seems you will either have to wait for my hair to grow back out or figure something else out. But I do agree with my small friend here. Perhaps you can show the two of us around.
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He agrees to take two (or all) of you on a tour, though there is not a lot to be shown, really. You have seen the main stage and the dressing rooms already, but he take you through some of the balconies overseeing the theater below. He also shows you wardrobes and props rooms, which seem to be in utter disarray. Few things are grouped together, though otherwise it appears clean and what you would expect from such storage areas. The entire tour takes only a few minutes, though. You don't really detect any deception or lies from him, and don't know his character well enough to judge if he is acting out of the ordinary.
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Rhuul will go, and use his knowledge of theatre (limited as it is) to delay matters by asking as many technical details as possible.
When he sees the actors on stage, he'll grab a fake dwarven war axe and show the actor how "a real dwarf" would use it. Hopefully keeping the director busy still longer.
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Spending a little time looking around, you manage to speak to some of the actors. Outside of the obvious, you see nothing out of the ordinary for this sort of place, though the actors admit to a lot of discontent with the director. "He has always been a bit odd. Kind of known for it. But this last year, things have really gone down hill. He's even loonier that before. Ever before. It's like he's a different person almost. It all started just before they renovated the place abut a year ago."
You notice two things on the tour, but since you are with Senlokto the entire time, are not able to easily investigate them (unless you want to be caught). In his dressing room/office, you noticed a note on his dressing room table that drew your attention from a distance. Likewise, you noticed that there was a trap door hidden beneath the carpet.