tsr09497 - AD&D - Ra.. - Property Is Theft!

While this encounter may seem brief, it introduces a recurring character in the adventure. From the onset, portray Matton
with greasy cordiality and snobbish superiority. This "obvious" enemy will make the heroes more easily confide in much
more dangerous characters in the future.
Storm (light war horse): INT Animal (1); AL N; AC 7; MV 24; HD 2; hp 11; THACO 19; #AT 2; Dmg: 1-
4/1-4; SZ L; ML 7; MM/194; XP 35.
Retainers (0-level humans, 6): AC 10; MV 12; hp 1d6; #AT 1; Dmg by weapon (dagger: 1d4); AL N;
THACO 20; XP 35.
Hounds (12): INT Semi- (3); AL N; AC 7; MV 15; HD 1+1; hp 1d8+1; THACO 19; #AT 1; Dmg: 1-4; SZ S;
ML 6; MM/57; XP 35.
A Riverboat Captain
Some time after Matton's hunting party merges back into the forest, whether the heroes are still on the island or traveling
along the shore, they see a riverboat with a tall white sail as it rounds the bend about a mile upriver. As the Virago
approaches, the lone pilot at the stern can be heard singing a bawdy sailor's song.
As the boat draws nearer, the man at the rudder stops belting out his tune. Even before the last note has stopped echoing off
the hillsides, the bright sail of the boat is being lowered, and it slows at it reaches you.
As the boat drifts closer, its only apparent crewmember, a man of average size with a wild curly mane of black hair and a
full beard, waves to you. He is dressed in a dark sweater and trousers. "Ahoy there! Cap'n Timothy's the name, and this is
milady, the Virago. Would you folks be needing assistance?"
The sailor is Captain Nathan Timothy, a recurring character in this adventure who is described fully in Chapter Eight. If the
party doesn't think to ask, he offers them passage on the Virago, providing that they don't mind sleeping on deck or ashore at
nights. His hold is too full for passengers.
Despite a congenial facade, Captain Timothy is a powerful werewolf and a former dark lord. Although he fosters the image
of a rough and bawdy captain, he is shrewd, devious, and heartless. He invites the party on board, observe them for a day,
and (providing they seem sufficiently weak) he will attack and devour them at night.
Captain Timothy's first action is to separate the heroes from their most powerful ally: Raul. Timothy recognizes Raul as a
Vistana and has no desire to harm or offend him (even former dark lords fear the evil eye). He will not tolerate Raul aboard
his ship, since he fears that the Vistana may be able to pierce his disguise. Captain Timothy is adamant about not letting
"that damn gypsy" aboard the Virago, claiming that the Vistani are extremely bad luck for ships.
If the heroes insist, Timothy says that they are welcome aboard, but the Vistana must ride behind in a rowboat and be towed.
Since the heroes probably have their own misgivings regarding Raul over their arrival to Invidia, they will probably agree to
this request. Without a word, Raul gathers as many tools and sample wares as he can fit with him (and Nikko, should be
baby still be alive) into the rowboat. Raul contents himself during the voyage by playing the violin as the Virago tows his
rowboat downriver.