My group has a Frost Sorceror, an Ice Troll (Savage Species), an Aventi Druid, and a Dwarven Priest. After their showing in taking on the savage pirates assaulting the captain, she realized they worked together quite smoothly.
I had her play the very rough and tumble swarthy pirate, but when the Frost Sorc spit it right back in her face with a play by play of how they'd beat her down if she didn't stand down (bluff check of 31, but he wasn't "really" bluffing), she took a moment to think about it, evaluated her chances, and decided conversation was preferrable to combat.
Had it come to combat, I think they might have won. Harliss may be a level 13 character, but she's only about a CR 10. Her damage output and AC wouldn't have held up against the trolls HP and damage potential. The cold sorc would have nerfed her movement capabilities, and the druid and cleric are really fast to flank and box off escape routes.
By that point my group had expended all their spells, wands, and potions, and she would have mopped the floor with them. BTW, why doesn't she bring back a few buddies and swipe the Sea Wyvern while the PCs are busy dealing with bullywugs? Obviously she's got some means of escape (I don't see her walking alone through the swamps, for example). This has been bothering me every time one of the PCs hoists the mainfo'csle or whatever it is that sailors do on a caravel-class ship.
By that point my group had expended all their spells, wands, and potions, and she would have mopped the floor with them. BTW, why doesn't she bring back a few buddies and swipe the Sea Wyvern while the PCs are busy dealing with bullywugs? Obviously she's got some means of escape (I don't see her walking alone through the swamps, for example). This has been bothering me every time one of the PCs hoists the mainfo'csle or whatever it is that sailors do on a caravel-class ship.
Well - the writeup for Harliss states that, if she is still alive after encountering the PCs, "she flees the region on foot to the east. She eventually reaches a Scarlet Brotherhood fort and is able to secure passage on a ship back to Scuttlecove". Since the bullywug tribes are to the west, she would not encounter them on her flight to the fort.
According to the map of the sea voyage in Dungeon 141, it's a long haul to Scuttlecove - the PCs would be able to claim the Sea Wyvern long before she could get back.
As far as mounting a rescue mission for the Wyvern, my guess is that Harliss assumed that the ship would either burn or be taken immediately by the PCs anyway (that's what she would do if she had enough able-bodied people IMHO). There's no reason to waste manpower coming back there. Also, the secrecy of Kraken's Cove has been ruined by the PCs arrival; it's useless to the Fleet now (and the Sasserine Navy could have an ambush waiting for them if they tried to come back - she wouldn't risk losing more people and ships).
The overall impression I get is that Harliss is cutting her losses, and feels it is more important to get back to Scuttlecove and let her fellows in the Crimson Fleet know what happened than to risk reclaiming one little ship.
Just my two coppers' worth - sorry it was so long-winded :)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
My group has two players that have Profession(sailor) so they will be taking the "boat" immediately.
I think having the PCs take the ship back to Sasserine is a bit more plausible, in a lot of ways, but much depends on your party and how things go in Kraken's Cove. This of course leads to a bit of a problem with how the Bullywugs beat the party back, but playing with the timing of the events at the cove and the departure of Javell's lietenant, and their mode of transport, might get rid of this problem. If the lieutenant has access to a pinnace (i.e. a small vessel suitable for both sailing or rowing), he could easily beat the PCs back from the Cove, slip quietly into Sasserine's whaling port masquerading as a fisherman, and take the Vanderboren mansion. It also could be arranged for him to pick up Harliss on the way back, perhaps after recruiting some likely fellows in Sasserine to crew the Wyvern.
So, bottom line, there are lots of ways to change the flow of the AP here just slightly to make it more plausible for your particular group.
Well - the writeup for Harliss states that, if she is still alive after encountering the PCs, "she flees the region on foot to the east. She eventually reaches a Scarlet Brotherhood fort and is able to secure passage on a ship back to Scuttlecove". Since the bullywug tribes are to the west, she would not encounter them on her flight to the fort.
Um... how did I miss that bit of text? Time to invest in bifocals! Thanks, Dalesman. Your explanation (not long-winded, just quite well thought-out) is welcome. Still, I shudder to think of what the "Cousins" of the Brotherhood might do with her when she walks in all bedraggled-like...
Well - the writeup for Harliss states that, if she is still alive after encountering the PCs, "she flees the region on foot to the east. She eventually reaches a Scarlet Brotherhood fort and is able to secure passage on a ship back to Scuttlecove". Since the bullywug tribes are to the west, she would not encounter them on her flight to the fort.Um... how did I miss that bit of text? Time to invest in bifocals! Thanks, Dalesman. Your explanation (not long-winded, just quite well thought-out) is welcome. Still, I shudder to think of what the "Cousins" of the Brotherhood might do with her when she walks in all bedraggled-like...
Glad to help, Erik. Harliss could have a rough homecoming indeed, but I think that was why she was made as such a strong character/presence. It guarantees that she will come back if she survived the PCs.
It's going to be hard waiting for the Scuttlecove adventure, but I can be patient..... :)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"