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

Beyond Timothy's cabin is the galley, which contains a small cooking stove and several different kinds of breads, cheeses,
and other dried foodstuffs and spices.
Down the Musarde
As the bleak waters swirl along the ship, Captain Timothy is more than happy to chat about his travels up and down the
Musarde. He knows the river, its towns, and villages intimately. (Some details can be found in Chapter Seven, while the
various Ravenloft adventures and accessories can provide others; this is an opportunity for the Dungeon Master to allude to
interesting events elsewhere in the core domains and perhaps sew the seeds for future adventures.) He describes Karina as "a
wild, lively town, especially around Festival season" and promises to give the party a tour of the highlights once they arrive.
Meanwhile, Captain Timothy is mentally planning an ambush for the party. While he chats about the river and its sights, he
pumps the heroes for their background and skills. He is especially interested in the party wizards; in the past, they have
caused him the greatest pain. Timothy works these queries into the flow of conversation.
Timothy disappears downstairs around lunch time, allowing the hero with the most nautical experience to steer, shutting and
locking the hatch behind him. He will not allow any heroes to join him. While Timothy is below decks, the party can hear
him bumping around the cabin and the hold as well (he is dipping into his brandy). When he returns above decks with
coffee, bread, and cheese, the Captain's breath stinks of drink.
The rest of the day passes quickly, marked by the spectacular array of fall foliage along the shores and Timothy's apparent
drinking binge in his cabin while he prepares lunch. Late in the afternoon, the Virago sails past Matton Blanchard's hunting
party, traveling in the direction of Karina along the south shore of the river. Timothy gives Matton scarcely a second glance,
although the wolfwere gives the heroes a mocking salute as the boat sails past him. If the party asks Timothy about
Blanchard, the captain's voice takes on a tinge of disgust. According to the captain, Matton is "a foppish dandy and a real
snob. I'd steer clear of him, if I were you." Timothy and Blanchard are both fully aware of each other's true natures; the
werewolf and wolfwere regard each other as a contemptible nemesis, though they would never reveal the real reason for
their enmity to mere humans.
Most importantly, Captain Timothy is also severely prejudiced against gypsies. Timothy's poor treatment of Raul was
spurred partially by his desire to split the party and partially by his fear and bigotry. He is especially fearful of the evil eye,
and continually makes small hand gestures covertly behind his back when he thinks Raul is looking at him.
Among the superstitious, special hand gestures are thought to ward off the evil eye. Timothy will explain the concept of the
evil eye to the heroes, if they haven't heard of it already, although like most giorgio, his knowledge of the subject is
imperfect and stilted at best. To gain the heroes' confidence, he will teach them a few hand signs. Most hand gestures will
likely make a Vistana laugh than provide any form of protection, but if the heroes truly believe they are effective, the
Dungeon Master may permit the character a +1 bonus to the Evil Eye check.
Captain Timothy's ill feelings toward gypsies are conveyed in the "Tale of the Captain and the Vistana." He tells the story to
the heroes in a low voice as they sail downriver, so Raul in the trailing rowboat cannot overhear.
The Tale of the Captain and the Vistana
"The Vistani turn up where you least expect them and always want what you can least afford. They're never to be trusted,
always spouting lies and stealing your gold. There's a good reason why I won't let any gypsy on my ship, and if you listen,
I'll tell you why.