Chilling Adventures in the North

Qinfaren examines the package they got from Rool, turning it in his large hands, shaking it gently, even bringing it up to his nose to see if it smells like anything familiar.

(Perception: 12 )

"Whatever is in here really got her worked up. She should think about why. All that rage can't be good for her health." Qinfaren says.

He starts back out into the hallway.

"Who wants to tell the captain? He's not going to like this."

"He's not going to listen to me, that's for sure," Arogna says. "We should open that parcel. Unless he told you not to touch it, like milady with the dagger told me. If we knew what she was after, might help us figure out why, then maybe we can get it there safer." 

Qinfaren smells the package and recognises the scent of Shadowdale brandy.

Qinfaren looks up at Arogna.

"I don't think it would be proper to open a package we've agreed to deliver," he says and then adds with a smile "but in any case, this smells like Shadowdale Brandy. And it sloshes around like a bottle of liquid."

He then heads along the hallway and up the stairs to the deck to head to the captain's cabin, looking back to make sure the others are following.

When he gets to the captain's door he knocks firmly three times.

Arogna stands with her mouth open for a moment staring at Qinfaren as he walks off with the brandy. Her arm is outstretched as if she wants to grab the package. After a moment, she unfreezes and hurries after him. "Hold up! Why would the rat-woman be bothered about a bottle of brandy? There's gotta be something more than that. You can't just give it to the captain. We gotta investigate it properly. Bring it back. Dammit. Stop, man."  Arogna and her protests follow Qinfaren up the stairs and onto the deck.

Shad will follow to the captain’s cabin. He looks around as he goes, trying to anticipate where a giant rat might eavesdrop from.

Perception: 13

Qinfaren looks at Arogna and then at the wrapped bottle in his hand, confusion on his face.

"I would not give this to the captain," Qinfaren begins. "It's not his. I just want to tell him that one of his crew is some sort of rat person. Maybe even a wererat. Though maybe you're right that she's just a stowaway and has been hiding. Did you notice those claws of hers as she changed? I wonder if they would fit in the grooves we found up on deck."

"Oh. Alright then," says Arogna, looking somewhat relieved. "Yeah, you might be right about those claws, actually. Glad she didn't bite me."

Muharg takes a moment to think about what has just happened “Maybe we’re facing some kind of romantic scenario here?”

He then thinks about the claw marks, and the fact that the group just witnessed a woman turn into a rat... “For the nine hells! What if this person can change into whatever they want? What if she threw overboard a member of the crew and has since been taking their place? We really need to speak with the captain!”

He then shakes his head “Not sure he’ll be in the mood to talk to me, though... again.”

And he joins Qinfaren and the rest on their way to the captain’s cabin.

Bjorn falls in step behind the rest of the party, "Do you think she had something to do with the first night? I have a feeling that things are connected somehow. Could the captain's precautions be against her?"

As you all head to the captain's cabin, you see no more signs of the mysterious woman, rat form or not. When Qinfaren knocks the door there are some noises from inside, before the door opens. Standing on the other side is Captain Silvermane who looks like he has just been dragged out of his hammock.

"What do you want?" He grumbles.

Qinfaren smiles down at the captain.

”Hello captain. Have you thought about another trade? This one really doesn’t seem to make you very happy.” Qinfaren begins but then senses he might want to get to the point. “We just found a shapeshifter sneaking around below decks. We confronted her but she changed in to a very big rat and snuck off into the dark. I think she might be related to what happened the first night we came on board. Anyway, just thought you’d like to know you have a woman who can turn into a rat running around your nice boat.”

Captain Silvermane ignores Qinfaren's first remark, but he does swing the door open.

"You'd better come in."

Once inside you all gather around his desk as he sits down behind it.

"Hmm, this is most concerning. I think it indeed related to the incident from the other night. You see shortly after we left Luskan, one of my crew was thrown overboard. It was brave of you to jump in, but I think it was too late. It seems that he was killed before being thrown overboard. What you saw was an attempt at getting rid of the body. Most likely after the crew member saw something or someone that he was not supposed to.

This of course meant that a murderer was on board the ship. Though I did not see anyone who did not belong. If this woman can indeed transform into a rat, then that would explain how she has avoided detection for so long. However, being moored to the docks of Aurilssbarg, she was probably gone ashore. It would be foolish of her to stay aboard. Though I will command some of my crew to search the Icebreaker.

Though I wonder how she does it. How does she change into a rat?"

Qinfaren almost changes into a rat to show him how it could be done, but then he decides that might not be wise right now. Besides, he doesn't think that what the woman did is the same as what he can do.

"She could have magic. Though," he looks over at the others "did you notice her hair was the brown of a field mouse, or of a rat? It's possible she could be a wererat. That would help explain why she seemed to have a bit of a temper. I've heard wererats don't tend to be the nicest of people."

Perception to see how much Arogna noticed about the rat: 12

"It was dark, and it happened really quick," shrugs Arogna. "A tail kinda popped out. It was weird. Yeuch."

"Does your knowing of her mean it might be safe for us to go ashore? Make out delivery?" Shad says. "I imagine our making our delivery would please Lennart. He's a big customer of yours, maybe?"

“I think we know the reason way the rat woman didn’t left the ship in Aurilssbarg.” Says Muharg “It will probably be appropriate to have Lennart join in the conversation, however, for this reason involves one of the deliveries we’re meant to carry out. Might one of us go fetch hin, sir?”