Raven glanced around the area, taking in the lack of children to fill many of the chairs.  "Let me guess, kids going missing around town?" She asks as the greetings were finished off.

"Oh, I am doing fine. You are kind for asking," says Sister Almara. She sighs. "I suppose you have not been downriver yet?  The docks are full of new merchants from the seaport. Or, at least, they call themselves merchants. Six or seven huge ships, armed with ballistas and new-fangled black powder cannons. Everybody knows they are pirates.  Some of the merchants have struck deals with them.  Others have had mysterious fires or just happened to be murdered in dark alleys.  And most of the children have gravitated down to the merchant docks. Some of them have found respectable work in the inns and taverns--the taverns are always full, now. Most of them simply trail after the pirates, though. They see bold, free elves who dress in fine clothes, carry shiny weapons, have pockets full of gold and have no fear of watchmen or the city barons. It seems a much more attractive lifestyle than hard labor in the mines for barely enough to survive on. They run errands for the pirates for coins, and beg to be hired on to the crews.  Now and then, the pirates will take a dozen or so, and the 'lucky' chosen ones are taken aboard a ship.  A few of them have been seen on board, climbing the rigging or standing lookout, or being allowed to go ashore and brag about their new station.  But the number of children who have gone aboard seem far in excess to any amount of cabin boys or trainees that the ships would need."

Elwin was conflicted. The allure of piracy was a big one for youth with no where else to turn, and truth be told, there were far worse fates for them to follow. But still... pirates had been around when he was a kid, and they'd never had this kind of pull or influence before. What was going on? How were they affording all these new "trainees?" Or was this all cover for the real scam--funneling a portion of their new "hires" toward more nefarious purposes?

He glanced at Raven and Del. They both seemed aware of the implications here; even if their main culprit WASN'T involved, these new pirate ships still warranted a look, and possibly an intervention.

That is a more complex scam than we have seen in the other cities. Kids were just disappeared, or are seen running clearly charmed, brute kidnapping, attracted by candy. It is a wonder anyone thinks these kids are worth the trouble of a cover story. But we also heard stories of kids in SC going missing not about pirates - maybe more than one scam, or the hags have shifted strategies.

Del stops to think Now we have two problems here, the pirates and Red Sails. Not to mention the overall labor versus oligarch strife. I'd say the pirates' kidnapping ring is more important than Red Sails being part of the pixiewood supply chain. Though I don't doubt we find them connected

There is one way I can help right now. Besides the tithes I have sent - the Abbey did get both bank transfers I hope? - we just liberated the payroll from a gnoll army. My share Del hands over 1500 silver, 1300 copper can go for alms, or paying the families to do honest work, or whatever needs are neediest. Smaller coins are probably handiest

After breakfast, Del will try to talk to some of the kids, to find out if there is any kid insight into where kids disappear, if there is more than the pirate story, if there are more street rumors, and also entertain and play the successful hero

Insight (finding the storyline amid the babble? Persuasion is 4 higher if that is more appro) 21

Quentin quietly nods as he says, “I’d rather stop pirates kidnapping children or luring the away. Regardless it’s a pattern now, find the missing children, and we find hags.”

Sister Almara thanks Del profusely for his generosity, wiping away a tear. "We will see that this goes where it may do the most good," she promises.

As usual, the children are eager to talk with Del, and tell all they know.  Most of the ones remaining at the abbey are those who, for one reason or another, are not attracted to or suited for life as a pirate.  Many of the youngsters seem to try to dress in a piratical style, temporary tattoos drawn or scratched into their skin, and cutlasses roughly carved from scrap wood stuck into whatever passes for their belts or waistbands. Their claims that they actually prefer independent or abbey life seem hollow and wistful. (Others look at your group with awe, and you hear the words "Mole Whackers" whispered once or twice in the back. The Thamasaille bards' songs seem to have reached the Abbey and been thoroughly enjoyed..)

The basic account the children give is that most of the street urchins follow whatever pirates they see around town, trying to curry favor and impress them. Frequently, the pirates will invite the likely ones to come and serve an apprenticeship.  They say that Captain Spilwake has hundreds of ships at sea, and is always capturing more, and needs crew for them. The children spend a few days aboard the ships in town, learning the basics, before being shipped out to join their new crews. One of the local boys, named Scruffins, has been made a cabin boy on Captain Spilwake’s own flagship, the Serpent’s Tooth. He is frequently seen climbing in the rigging and running errands on land, and in his spare time, often comes to swagger around and show off his new clothes and shining dagger, and boast that he might be given a pistol of his own soon. The other children speak of Scruffins with a combination of awed admiration and jealous disgust.

Mindartis watches all of the kids, not really sure what he should be doing at this point.

Elwin nodded at Quentin's statement. "I'd like to have a chat with this 'Captain Spilwake.' But that can wait--after we're done here, I think I'd like to head back to the docks and check out one of his ships instead."

All the pirate ships are downriver at the merchant docks, not back where we were - Spilwake's flagship and 5-6 more. But doing a sneaky peek on one of the other ships is a good idea, before confronting the main elf. 

Can the kids or Abbey Siblings give an idea of the pirates' numbers? How many kids are still seen around the in-port ships? Is it the same set of ships or do they come and go?

Once armed with information - and any other things y'all need - we could leave our animals and Mr Fiskins and excess gear behind, but bring the empty tapestry incase there are some sugar cubes to rescue, and head to the nicer part of town - at first just seeing the pirates from a distance. Agreement?

Nobody has a certain idea of numbers, except that there are 6 or 7 large, sea-going ships, which could have a crew of up to 200 each, though it's unlikely they all have the maximum crew.  More likely it's between 100-150 each.  There are never more than a dozen children in training on each ship. And the flagship and one or two of the others is pretty much always there, while some of the other ships go and come back with goods to sell. "Probably plundered from merchant vessels," says Sister Almara. "Although I don't have proof. When the dragon was alive, sea pirates never dared to come near the river mouth, let alone come so far upriver. Just the fact that these scalawags never appeared before the death of Anabraxes the Shining is enough to make them suspicious characters."

Elwin thought for a bit. "This could get pretty dangerous. Still... I agree, I think it's worth at least observing these folks and seeing what we find out."

"Sneaking around and watching things is my specialty."  Raven says with a shrug.  "Ready when you are."

Seems like no objections, we can head to observe the merchant dock area. Pretty sure news of our arrival will have spread, so we can use our more obvious movements to distract from our subtle ones later. Also pretty sure we don't want to fight even one crew - 150-200 - at a time so we'll need some stragety [sic] 

As said, leaving animals behind but bringing the tapestry, unless contradicted

I agree, though the appeal of fighting a whole crew is growing for Mindartis

Quentin goes along with what the group has planned right now, this is kind of Del and Elwin's city so their choice, just tell him where to put the Wall of Force. 

"Alright then," said Elwin with a smile. "How about we decide our strategy on the way there?"

(( Elwin's thoughts:

He doesn't really see the point in trying to take out all the pirates just because they're being pirates. But if they are in league with the hags, or if they're doing something more to the kids than just letting them join up, he'll want to definitely send a STRONG message letting them know that that is unacceptable... even if it has to be done covertly (which he'd consider a bit cowardly, but totally worth it to stop them from hurting kids.)

We probably don't have the time or means to actually follow a ship out to sea and watch what happens when they're out of sight; our best bet is probably just going to be to see what we can determine from watching their activity on the ships, or listening in on something critical. So, Elwin's suggestion would be a two-prong approach. Have one or two of us sneak onboard a ship and observe, while the others openly approach the same ship and "passively confront" them? (Perhaps offer a matter-of-fact deal of gold in exchange for them backing off from recruiting for a while, just to gauge their response? We could threaten them with bringing in other forces to shut them down, but that might go downhill pretty quickly.)

It would be great if we could have an insider go undercover as a recruit, but as none of us are halflings, and as Elwin would NOT want to have a kid act as bait, that's probably not an option. ))

"We should get as much information out of them as possible," Mindartis says. "And talk to this cabin boy if we can. This pirate thing might turn out to be a complete red herring, but i doubt it."

 You walk though the city, discussing your plans.  The poorer parts of the city are usually teeming with street kids, some urchins with no home and nowhere to go but the abbey, others the children of miners and refinery workers, wandering the streets at liberty while their parents work long hours trying to keep a roof over their heads and put food inside them, more still struggling themselves to find work, generous donors, or pockets to pick to help keep their families afloat.  Elwin and Del are shocked at the lack of children to be seen. Without their lively energy, the city seems crushed under the weight of its poverty and misery.

As Elwin discusses the possibility of sending someone in undercover, Flitterbug chimes in. "I'm a kid!  I can do it! I can be bigger for an hour!  Or else, didn't someone have a disguise hat?  Maybe it could make me look tall enough for even longer."

You move on through the small merchant district, past the shabby shops and into the slightly more prosperous area that serves the merchant docks, filled with taverns and shops. Further up the hill behind you are the wealthy shops, then the homes of the wealthy city barons and nobles.  The streets here have access to the river once more, and from the large open park among the shops, you can see the busy docks below, cargo being hauled off and onto boats, loads of fish being offloaded into merchants' carts, and river crews either bustling about their business or taking some time to relax. The sound of music and rowdy shouting comes from the taverns.

Beyond the riverboats, anchored in mid-river, you see six large ships that seem completely out of place.  Unlike the broad, flat-bottomed river craft, these ships have narrow, deep keels, and tower above the boats. Tall, rigged masts reach toward the sky, large square sails furled tight to wide yardarms, and not a paddle wheel or an oarlock in sight. The largest ship, painted brightly in black and red with gilded trim, flies a blood-red flag bearing the image of a serpent, poised to strike, its mouth agape and fangs presented. They may be the first firearms you've ever seen, but those of you who have heard tales of them recognize the glinting metal barrels of cannons on its deck.

Beyond the river, you see more docks, piled with blocks and slabs of dark slate.  Behind those and the few shabby buildings behind them, the black slate cliffs rise, their oddly squared-off ridges attesting to the centuries of being cut away. Beyond a wide gap you can see scaffolding and mule wagons, and even from across the river, over the dock and tavern noises, you can hear the blows of hammer and chisel and the scrape of saws against stone.

You can see that this is where the children have gravitated to.  They mill aroung the dock, tagging after sailors, and the merchants and city watch have their hands full keeping them out of the markets and out of mischief.  As you watch, a pair of flamboyantly dressed and heavily armed sailors swagger up toward the markets, a pack of maybe twenty urchins following respectfully.

"I do have a magical hat."  Raven offers, removing it from her pack.  "Any of us can use it though, so it doesn't have to be you..."  She glances to the group.  "I could try it, but I would have to change up some of my magical gear.  Anyone else want to do so?"

Anchored out in the river like that, hard to sneak up on. But Flitterbug can just be invisible rather than disguised. It will take time to attune to that hat, but we may want to try the disguise method later. Del says, and turns to Flitterbug I didn't know you could get bigger - that is very interesting. For now could you just take a quick invisible look at the nearest ship and let us know what's going on? Del also looks to Mindartis - he does not want to act like F needs permission, but M is kinda like a guardian