Polly walks up to Fran and the woman. “He’ll probably not coming back for a while I’m afraid. I’m Polly, who might you be?”  

(OOC: Might as well continue to upper deck as planned, if Ordrag still has a clear path)

Impressive, thought Ordrag as he peered into the darkness from ten feet up the rigging, he can move pretty fast for a poncy high-born. Then descending to the deck, Ordrag noticed for the first time the dead seagulls, having been somewhat preoccupied before. A solitary dead seagull was not uncommon around the docks, but four in one place was unusual. Was someone using them for target practice? Had they been fed some dodgy scraps? Were the crows above aggressive hunters? Although eager to return to his friends, Ordrag took a quick glance at one or two of the dead birds.

Perception: 17. (Medicine or Survival may be more appropriate, but I have same proficiency in all three skills)

Ordrag's investigation lat him know that the birds was stung to death - not the most common death for a seagull. Crows (a species not known to be the night birds, by the way) were silently watching Ordrag's manipulations. At some point the devilish companion of Amrik emerged from the lower deck and disappeared in the night sky - one of the crow followed.

Meanwhile in the gaming lodge the dark-skinned woman was openly expressing her anger over missing Amrik: "That wretched family! Slippery like eels - all of them! For days I was trying to get into their villa - I was not allowed to even some close to it! Can not imagine what they are doing to him there... " She calmed down a bit and answered the question, though not without some hesitation: "I am Reya" she tightened the cloak around her figure. "I am sorry for that emotional display. Thank you for your answers. I will ask the owner, that Captain, but doubt she can tell me more." She turned to go upstairs.

"Mortlock," Choir says, wondering if he's the one the woman is worried about.

Reya turned abruptly: "Mortlock Vanthampur? You know where I can find him outside of villa?" It did not sound if she was worried about Mortlock, more like a possibility to get in (the villa).

"Going to run," said Choir helpfully in Mortlock's voice. "On a ship out of Baldur's Gate and as far as possible."

”Excess me, but who is where?”Polly ask in a friendly voice over the commotion. “Maybe we can help you? We’re with FF and have been investigating the Vanthanpur family for being connected with the Dead Three. We had a rather interesting conversation with Mortlock the other day. He told us som incriminating things witch lead us hear.” Polly looks at Fran and Choir and then back at the woman. “Would you be willing to talk to us somewhere a little more calm?” 

Having been way laid by the bouncers.  Adray finally broke away.  "Gods damn it," he says coming back the Chior and Polly.  "He slipped away...  I probably spooked him.  Next time, we just punch the guy and take him back unconscious."

Having just noticed the girl he says, "who's she?  Never mind, bring her along as we head up.  Maybe Fran and Nibs have found something."

Polly's casual remark about her (even worse - "us") being Flaming Fist (apparently,  Reya  was familiar with abbreviation as well) provoked quite unexpected reaction in dark-haired woman. She looked as if she can not decide whether to run away or attack - with a sword half out again and the glances as if calculating the fastest way out. But at the end she did neither. She put her sword away and nodded to herself: "I am not even surprised anymore. I can talk to you but heed my warning - if you try to "arrest" me as your lot does, I will fight back, and believe me when I say it - I will kill at least some of you!"  

"Where do you want to talk?"

"Not here, that's for sure.  To many of Amirik's hired help here and who knows if there are any more bloody imps around," he responds.  "No, let's go for a walk.  Keep moving."

Ordrag considers throwing a handaxe at the remaining crow, but thinks better of it, knowing he'll probably lose it in the water. Instead he picks up one of the dead seagulls and lobs it at the crow. 

Attack: 18. 

(OOC: Do you think anyone in the history of DnD has made a ranged attack with a dead seagull before?)

Then, just as he is preparing to go below and rejoin his friends, they emerge from the stairway ...

“Don’t mind Adrey. He’s just grumpy about loosing Amrik.” She looks at him them back at the woman, she thinks she know what she means and is disgusted.  “And don’t worry about that. If anyone of them try to ‘arrest’ you, I’ll help you kill them.. there might be a lot of bastards in Flaming Fist, but we’re not like them.. We can either go to our headcounter, but if that is troubling for you we can go somewhere else. ” she turns to Adrey. “Is it far to that bar we went to before? What was the name? Singing spirit or something..” 

She turn to Adrey. ”I’m sorry Adrey, in the commotion I got nervous and failed to charm Amrik. It’s my fault he got away.. and the Imp was more powerful then I initially thought. It could break through my mind and speak directly in my head. I could not stop it either..” 

As the group gathers, Fran would side step away to duck out of the conversation to awkwardly stand with Ordrag who she witnessed just hucked a seagull. She’d jut her chin out to gesture to the crows, “Eyes in the sky. But who’s?” She’d try to continue to appear as a lone individual just checking out the commotions because of her suspicion of the birds. Fran would then absentmindedly saunter around looking to see if there could be someone who’s connected to them while the others chat with the woman. 

To much surprise of the crow, too curious about Ordrag manipulations and sitting way too close to be safe, the seagall proved to be a formidable weapon - it hit hard, making crow to loose balance for a moment, and - Ordrag could swear - shape too. At the end crow flew away, at least, you could not see it anymore.

Fran and Brutus were fist on the upper deck, the rest had to talk out some things. Once the little devil was gone (Fran and Ordrag did not see it passing by, but they were busy), things downstairs calmed down. The incident was over, bouncers returned to watching and Gazg now could allow himself to relax a bit ( probably another evidence Amrik was not about to be back soon).

Reya nodded to Polly's reassurance not to arrest her, but did not comment the rest - she was determined to see The Cap first, so you ended up at the bar on the gambling deck. The good owner of the fine establishment was quite angry and had a lot to say to Adray. Reya had to wait with her questions untill The Cap was yelling about the difference between borrowing the money and assoulting her business partner. At the end she demanded for Adray to leave. Reya got the answer that Amrik is not here and not going to return, so she can shove off as well.

Adray left, none to happy about the situation.  However, he did not let slip who he worked for and figures if nothing else, they could stake out the ship for his coming and going and take him the but that would all take time.  The imps, those would play a more difficult role.  They were small, fast, could fly and apparently read minds.  

Eventually, everyone were standing on the upper deck. The crow (if it was still hanging around) is nowhere to be seen. People are still coming into the tavern, though in lesser numbers. And some are already leaving. Midnight is not such a late hour for gambling but streets are (even more) dangerous than at the day time.

"It was not an imp, back there" suddenly said Reya, still agitated after the encounter downstairs. The Cap's rude words did she simply shrugged off, but that creature impressed her. "Believe me, I know the difference. It was a devil, spinagon. They are unmistakable. Curse that city! I do not understand how people can live here! Devils are flying as if in their domain and no one so much a batting an eye!" For the third time now only on your count, she tried to calm down, but the woman is clearly on edge. "I apologize for my outburst!" The apology is very formal but you have a feeling, it all her strength to manage even that.

Reminder:

Ordrag sees the stranger emerge with the others, talking to them so frankly, and asks: Who is you? You not from here, then where you from? You chasing that guy too?

"Is he with you?" Reya looked at Adray, Choir and Polly. Getting a nod, she continued: "If by "that guy" you mean Amrik - I was hoping to meet him. I hoped to get an invite to the Vanthampur's family villa, or at least some answers. Your friends here said they are after the whole family?"

"Well," she again turned to familiar faces, "you said you wanted to talk. This deck looks empty enough, let's talk then."

Choir pipes up in Mortlock's voice. "Now, hear me out before you judge. I am, indeed, Mortlock Vanthampur, third son of Duke Vanthampur - my mother. Do not let that word - mother - deceive you. I am not her dear beloved child, but a questionable asset as most of the people around. That catacombs, she found it some time ago, concealed with the bathhouse and let the cultists in. Nurtured them, helped with all she could - all for one purpose, to prove Flaming First is useless and have to leave the city. Then Baldur's Gate would be hers."

"Almost worked, you know? She was the one insisting on sending Flaming Fist leader Duke Ulder Ravengard away to Elturel. Where he disappeared with the city itself, if you believe my mother - and I do - it went straight to Nine Hells. Literally. And if I know my mother - I am sure I do, enough anyway - I'd say this is the end goal of these all - the Nine Hells trip for Baldur's Gate itself."  

Mortlock." says Choir again. ""On a ship out of Baldur's Gate and as far as possible. Maybe it's not too late. "

She adds, "Cult of the Dragon.Do you talk about one called Duke Vanthampur? What do you know about her? She hides in her houses and so do her sons, but the dragon is patient and persistent. I need them dead. Death can be postponed until you get what you need from them, but death they get nevertheless?"

Well, that was all clear as a bell and explained everything.  Choir looked expectantly from Reya to her friends and back.

"Well. that pretty much sums it up." Polly agree. "So who are they holding hostage?"