2.5 TAKENTaken (Odd Jobs 2.5), is an adventure for 4 6 PlayerCharacters of 1st-level. It is intended to be a sidetrek adventure to help the PCs gain useful know-ledge and experience in the Countdown to Arma-geddon campaign.

This commission is be-ing offered by GustavHoffman, a woodcutterfrom the nearby villageof Denbruck. He iscurrently staying at theRusty Dragon inn.

Gustav is in Brookshireon behalf of Denbruckin hopes of negotiatinga lumber contract withthe Oldenhallers. His16-year-old daughter,Mina, accompanied thelogger to town for thefirst time. Gustav left her in their room at the RustyDragon while he met with Belven Oldenhaller butwhen he returned, she had disappeared. He's beendesperately searching the town for three days, butthere has been no sign. The reward offered is 25 gp;all the grieving father has left with him.

The Maiden True

Mina, curious about Brookshire, snuck off to exploreon her own before her (over-protective) father returnedfrom his meeting. Alas, she didn't get very far beforeshe ran afoul of some crewman from The MaidenTrue, a Saragozen pirate ship, docked incognito in theharbour. Crewed by a rag-tag band of cut-throatscalling themselves the, Encorcheurs (Bandits; MM,p. 343) and captained by a black-hearted villiannamed, Stavros (Bandit Captain; MM, p. 344), TheMaiden True has been quietly raiding the easterncoast of Haven for weeks. She has a hold full ofunfortunate souls bound for a Majipoori slave market,never to be heard from again. Mina Hoffman a rarebeauty with golden hair and flawless ivory skin wandered by a pair of the pirates on shore-leave andwas a prize far too tempting for them to pass up. Theysnatched her with ease and, for the past three days,she has been chained up in the ship's hold.

Finding Mina

One logical place for the adventurers to start is theRusty Dragon, itself. Both the inn's owner, Julietta Ber-telo, and her headman, Rudolf Grasser were on site

the day that Mina vanished. Grasser a dirty old man remembers the beautiful Mina and could becohersed into helping. A successful DC 15 Charisma(Persuasion) check (with Advantage if the interrogatoris a female with a 13+ Charisma or if they offer 5+ gp)will get him to spill the beans. Grasser saw Mina leavethe 'Dragon barely a half-hour after her father andheaded toward the Brookshire Boutique.

* * *Hilde Korvaski is the owner/proprietress of the Brook-shire Boutique, one the more exclusive mercantilesin the city. A handsome middle-aged woman with iron-grey hair and piercing blue eyes, Hilde is very direct inher dealings with people and doesn't suffer fools. Ifthey question her about Mina Hoffman, the PCs willhave to pass a DC 10 Charisma (Persuasion) check ora DC 15 Charisma (Intimidation) check. (Hilde doesn'tintimidate easily!) If successful, she will remember thata young, strikingly beautiful girl did wander into hershop a few days ago. Eventhough she didn't buy any-thing, the girl seemed to be enjoying looking aroundso much that Hilde didn't have the heart to shoo herout. When the girl did leave, however, Hilde noticedthat it looked like two men were following her. Hildedidn't get a good look at the men herself, but she didnotice that a local guttersnipe a young orphan-boynamed, Talen loitering about that same time.

* * *Talen, an eleven-year-old half-elf, is a local pickpocket(see, Spy: MM, p. 349) who works the docks. A non-discript orphan, Talen tends to fade into the back-ground (a boon in his profession); that, coupled withhis eidetic memory, makes him an excellent source ofinformation. An hour or two of searching will flush himout. Talen is only too happy to share what he knows for a price. A gratuity of 2 gp will buy the PCs a DC 15Charisma (Persuaison) check to learn what the boyknows. For every extra Gold Crown offered to Talen,lower the DC by 5; thus, a 5+ gp bribe is an automaticsuccess. Talen informs the PCs that, while he didn'tsee any abduction, he did notice that the two menfollowing the girl wore red sashes around their waists.Later on, he saw two other men (wearing identicalsashes) enter the Fatman's Feedbag.

* * *The 'Feedbag is one of Brookshire's most notorioustaverns; just the place an Encorcheur would be founddrinking. As (mis)fortune would have it, six (6) of therogues are drinking here tonight. If confronted, theywill deny everything and invite the PCs to get lost. Ifpressed, they will draw blades and fight. If defeatedand interrogated, a captured pirate will reveal thatMina is on their docked ship, The Maiden True, whichis scheduled to depart at midnight.

2.5 TAKENThe Maiden True

A captured Encorcheur can lead the party to the'Maiden. As most of the pirates are enjoying their lastnight on land, the ship has only a skeleton crew. Note:If the PCs arrive after midnight, it will be too late.

AREA 1 SHIP'S CABIN

Also known as the Quarterdeck, it is a raised, opendeck at the stern. The ships wheel is here, along witha small davit for a ships boat.

AREA 2 OFFICER'S CABINS

These tiny cabins are the private rooms of the shipsofficers. Usually, there is only a hammock and a seachest present as furnishings.

AREA 3 SMALL CABINS

Most of the ships crew sleeps here, although in goodweather some crew-members prefer to sleep on theopen decks. There is a dozen cramped bunks here.

AREA 4 STORAGE

(In order) Ships Office: All the ships paperwork is kepthere, including cargo manifests, pay records, and theships pay-chest (DC 15 Dexterity check to open);inside is 25 gp). Wardroom: The captain and his offi-cers take their meals here. Sail Locker: Spare sails,canvas, and sewing gear is stored here, as well asplenty of lines, firewood, and heavy tools. ChainLocker: The ships anchor chain is stored here.

AREA 5 STAVRO'S CABIN

The largest and most comfortable cabin on the ship isstill quite cramped by most standards. Inside areStavros' clothes and personal effects. A successful DC15 Wisdom (Perception) check will reveal a false bot-tom in his footlocker; inside is his personal treasure:25 gp and 50 sp.

AREA 6 MAIN/SLAVE HOLD

Most of the ships cargo is stowed here, as well asprovisions (including as many casks of fresh water aswill fit). This space serves as the main cargo hold, aswell as the crews mess deck. Crew-members taketheir meals sitting on whatever cargo is convenient.There are 30 malnourished and bedraggled men andwomen chained to the deck planks here, includingMina Hoffman.