Morning light streams in through the stained glass windows of the Cathedral of Aroden in Almas, where Venture-Captain Brackett sits behind a large, antique desk replete with hairthin lines that mar its surface like nearly healed scars. He scans a handful of papers before speaking to you and the other assembled guests, among them the no-nonsense wizard Wystorn Telfyr and Major Colson Maldris.
“I recently received news of a kidnapping in Sauerton, up in the northern wine country. Thalia Andares, heir to the Sauerton Red wine fortune and daughter of Consul Tercio Andares, vanished during the Silverglazer Sunday celebration and has not been seen since.”
With a meaningful look, Maldris catches Brackett’s attention, and the two nod in understanding as the major contributes. “Tercio Andares is powerful and widely respected; not only has he been the mayor of the large town for many years, but he is also a strong voice in the Andoren military—even for a consul. The Sauerton Red winery has made him extremely wealthy, and his financial support could be a considerable asset to the Pathfinders’ important work in and around the Worldwound. He seems uninterested in foreign affairs, though, perhaps because it’s politically safer to focus on domestic matters. Even so, he is known to help those who help him.”
“I appreciate the summary, major,” says Brackett. “I am convinced that the Andares’s gratitude would do much to refill our war chest for a struggle that is unlikely to end quickly. When you track down Thalia, as I trust you will do quickly, it is important not only to the Pathfinder Society but perhaps to the whole world that you request funding for the military campaign against the Worldwound. Of course, convincing Tercio to contribute troops and military aid would be even better, but aim for finances first.”
With a sigh, Major Maldris picks up his tricorne hat and prepares to depart. “I would stay longer, but I must make final preparations to travel,” he states in a quiet voice. “While I hope that the Andares family agrees to help the society, I am also wary of this political practice of mutual backscratching. As all of you are in Sauerton—especially those who care for this fine country—remain vigilant for signs of short-sighted corruption and abandonment of Andoran’s founding principles: freedom and democracy. Follow what you believe to be the best course of action, as I will not be available to advise you. Nonetheless, I would appreciate any reports of corruption after the situation is resolved.” After sharing a quick handshake with Brackett and a nod of farewell to the rest of you, he departs, closing the door behind him.
Telfyr breaks the moment of silence that follows by reporting, “My scrying indicates that the young Andares is being held in a building with high ceilings and once-elegant adornments in a style popular in this nation before the People’s Revolt. The structure seems to have sustained extensive fire damage which has not been repaired. Thalia is alive and unhurt, at least for now. She was reading a fresh copy of the essays of Alysande Benedict when I saw her.”
Brackett begins to bring the briefing to a close by concluding, “We have transportation ready to take you to Sauerton as quickly as possible. When you arrive, present this letter to Consul Andares before you begin your investigation. It introduces you and offers the condolences and assistance of the Pathfinder Society. Not only is this proper etiquette to announce your intentions to the mayor, but Thalia vanished from the Andares manor. Someone there should be able to make sense of Telfyr’s visions.”
Telfyr frowns at Brackett’s diction. “Scrying, Brackett, is diff–“
“Alright, yes, scrying,” the venture-captain concedes as he pushes a sealed letter across the table. “Introductions, rescue operation, then negotiation for funding and possible military support. Make any questions quick; you’ve got a boat to catch.”
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Pleased as punch to be in Andoran, where he called home before his induction to the Pathfinder Society, Herman is especially reverential to the great Major Maldris and the venture-captain.
As he listens to the mission briefing he tries to recall anything he knows about the wine country in the north and the Andares family in particular.
+2 bonus if anything to do with local music/art scene
"I know of the Andares family! It will be exciting to go see their land holdings with my own two eyes. I can't wait to get started!"
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Although pleased to be amongst his allies in of Andoran, Storn quickly tires of politics and is a little cranky after eighteenth mention of freedom and democracy in the past hour.
Why did I ally with people who annoy me so much?
"Bah, we will do this task. In the meantime I suppose we can go pretend to be impressed by things that rich people have bought. But you can be assured that we will succeed. Herman's giant brain shall find this rich girl without issue. The rest of us will be sure to present to you the livers of those responsible. First a kidnapping and now they force her to read - their depravity knows no limit!"
"We received reports late last night that she has been missing since the second part of the two-part Silverglazer Sunday celebration, and Telfyr scried her location most recently early this morning," Brackett responds.
Diplomacy (gather information) or Knowledge (local)
Knowledge (geography) or (local)
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"I seem to recall a fire of some kind at the Sauer villa about the time of the People's revolt. If that house is still standing it could be where Telfyr was scrying the Andares girl." Herman says, making a note in his journal.
"We'll have to be careful. The Andares family runs that part of Andoran pretty fiercely. Even though they aren't nobles anymore, they still employ most of the folk, and it's said any opposition tends to disappear."
"I say we go see the patriarch Tercio and see what he can tell us. Maybe if we find his daughter, he'll help in the Crusades."
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"Sauerton wine also has a reputation of less than stellar quality here in Andoran. I had much experience with it before I joined the Society and earned all this coin!" says Herman with a smile and look at his fancy arms and armor.
"It is probably what Storn serves at this dinner parties, let's leave it at that."
Unwilling to face criticism of his hero Major Maldris, Herman grimaces at Wuliem's insightful comment. "There's nothing contrived about it, Wuliem. The Andorans need our help, and we just happen to be here now. I'd say it was a happy coincidence. The fates must be smiling on us!
"You'll have to go to a different country for that, I'm afraid," Brackett laughs at Farg's comment. "There are no 'princesses' in Andoran."
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Storn grunts, responding quietly to Wuliem. "This is politics. We do a favour, they do a favour. Nothing strange, just how the world works. More importantly, I do not drink wine at my dinner parties unless it is from the skull of a fallen enemy. And then I forget about the eye holes and wine pours out everywhere! I'm so thirsty! "
"And I know nothing of this Sauerton, but if the wine is bad I will take your word for it. So we are to go there, talk to this rich person and be impressed by him, and then find an old building that's been burned and hopefully his daughter. Watch for political corruption, ask for troops. Got it."
Storn narrows his eyes at Telfyr and Beckett.
"Is there anything else? Suspects? Our welcome will be enthusiastic? Any troubles in the area? Why are we watching out for political corruption?"
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"We would consider using the dome of the skull, rather than its base, friend Storn," suggests Jani, adding, "or perhaps using a foe who lacks eyes. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"Are you providing us transport to Sauerton, or shall we find our own way there?" Herman asks the VC. "It seems a visit to Andares is our first option, followed by a search through the burned villa for any clues. Unless my esteemed colleagues have more questions, we shall be off."
"Unless the latest stories are wrong, there also have been attacks by wild beasts from the Verduran Forest on the citizens of Sauerton. That sounds like a job for Storn and Farg to deal with while we are up in wine country."
"As per suspects, when I heard reports from the north, it seemed as though the authorities were stumped. As for enemies, I know of none. Vivianna Talwin is the only major political rival Andares has to our knowledge. He has no obvious bad blood in the business of cheap wine."
"Troubles in the area? Yes, well," Brackett says, nodding to Herman, "the town has suffered from a rash of attacks by wild beasts from the Verduran Forest in recent years, but it is rare for any public figure to suggest Andares might be responsible for any problems - at least, well, publicly."
"The forest also serves to connect the area to the tense border with Galt, and so sometimes we get their brand of revolutionary crossing the border, looking for the faint traces of noble blood to feed their grisly 'Final Blades'."
"Here, the revolution has made society more fair, and egalitarian in voting, though there are vast differences in personal wealth and power, to be sure, sometimes based on merit and earned, sometimes not. You are to be concerned about corruption because this democracy is still young as the Inner Sea goes, and corruption is considered high treason in Andoran." As a quite aside the Venture-Captain adds, "Not that anyone here would do so, but bribes are to be avoided."
"As for your welcome, the captain of the guard, Merton Demrick, is a friend of the Pathfinder Society and has indicated he would appreciate the help. Still, as Ambrus Valsin is fond of saying-" Brackett clears his throat and mimics the brusque delivery of his colleague, "'For every friend of the Society, there are two enemies.'"
"Indeed, there is a ship at the river docks leaving soon which will take you up the Andoshen River to Sauerton."
Brackett gives a small chuckle at Wuliem's question, "As a Pathfinder, it seems you need to be prepared for anything and everything, but I know of no threats in particular, or peculiar to the region."
You make your way down the rings of hills upon which the city is perched, down to the river docks where, as promised, the boat is waiting for you.
It is some days journey up the Andoshen and the weather is fair, although it starts to rain just an hour before you arrive at the city of about 2,800 people. As you make your way into town and begin looking around, you are met by a halfling wearing light armor and a rain-spattered helmet. He hails you and say, "Morning! I am Captain Merton Demrick of the nation of Andoran. May I inquire as to your business in the city?"
"Ah, yes!", Demrick replies cheerfully, "I have been hoping that someone from the Pathfinder Society would be sent by Brackett. I am afraid that I have no leads in the disappearance of Consul Andares' only daughter, Thalia Andares. The Consul has tried to keep it quiet ... for the safety of his daughter - I'm sure he doesn't want every mob out looking."
"I assume you'll want to go directly to the Andares estate to make your introductions?"
Demrick begins to lead you to the estate, pointing out various features of the town, where supplies and lodging can be found, "Good drinks here at the 'Sauer Grapes and Smoke House' pub - don't mind the name, just an old reference to an incident from around the Revolution."
Most of Sauerton appears well maintained, and although the seasonal workers who arrived a few months earlier to help pick the grapes have since departed, several presses are still set up in the town square—the residents await the return of fairer weather so they can resume their wine production.
The Andares’s manor would not have been difficult to find, being one of several dozen stately homes still standing in the town as functional reminders of a past age’s nobility.
"Ah yes! That happens to be the incident I was referring to by the pub I mentioned! You see, when Lady Moxana Sauer, the last scion of the venerable Sauer family of Sauerton, chose exile over the loss of her title, she and her family performed one final act of spite before fleeing to take refuge among distant relatives in Cheliax: They set fire to her family’s beautiful villa and nearby crops, then sowed the land with salt, they say. Ever since, the area has been considered cursed and suspected of being haunted by the spirits of bitter nobles by some of our more, well, credulous citizens. I don't believe in curses and hauntings, of course - still, it is a strange world, as I'm sure you Pathfinders can attest as well as anyone!" He continues a little sheepishly, "None of the locals dare approach."
"How to get there? Well, you are Pathfinders, aren't you! Well, it isn't hard to find: Go east along the road past Andares Manor, winding through the apple groves until you find a crossroads. There, at Koriana's shop - you'll see the sign - you take a left and go north. You won't be able to miss it - a big patch where everything is dead and nothing grows, with a burnt-out villa smack in the middle of it."
"Not the season, I'm afraid, for harvesting of pressing grapes. You can also sample some of the local vintages - Not all deserve the reputation of the stuff sent south. We make some good stuff for ourselves," he replies to Wuliem with a wink. "But don't tell Consul Andares I said that!"
"In 4669, the date of The People's Revolt, of course! I was but a wee little laddie," he says, gesturing to his own knee level (a wee little laddie, indeed), "but we learned all of the dates in school. Well, it might have been 4670 or so, but all of the changes happened very fast after the Revolt."
"Some things haven't changed much since then, though. Well, for example, Sauerton has had a Andares mayor every one of the 44 years since - or is it 45 now? No matter. This year's election looked like it was going to be a rough one for the Consul - he is also the mayor of Sauerton, you know - but, well, you know, with the sympathy for him in people's minds, you know, it looks like it going go in his favor like a landslide. It’s funny: That is the Andares luck, all right, Anytime things seem to go badly for an Andares, there always seems to be a silver lining or convenient turn of events." He pauses for a moment before literally biting his tongue: "Please don't tell the Consul I called his missing daughter lucky! Oh my, no, no, it isn't that."
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Listening to his fellow Andoren halfling explain about the election, a dark thought crosses Herman's mind. He pushes such silliness out of his head and turns to the Captain smiling.
"Indeed, good sir, if you would lead us to the Manor, we seek audience with Consul Andares himself before doing much more exploring."
Herman takes out his Mandolin and plays a marching tune as the group trudges in the rain to the house of the local mayor.
Listening to Herman's masterful performance, no one seems to mind, or even notice, the patter of the rain.
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Storn taps out the beat to Herman's song, occasionally drumming on Hagan's helmeted head with a flourish. A good forced march through the rain seems to have cheered him.
He grunts over to Herman.
"I'll give you a small blessing before you speak, makes people like ya more. Probably why I'm so popular."
Before long, you are at the Andares mansion, which stands at the edge of a beautiful green and has a facade dominated by fine marble pillars. You knock on the door and you are met with a thin, hook-nosed woman with graying brown hair held in a tight bun. She is obviously initially quite surprised at the arrival and appearance of these unexpected callers, but then notices your escort. "Captain Demrick, how may I help you and these fine lady-... uh, individuals?" (She seemed to encounter uncertainty, pausing on Jani.)
You describe your goals and show your letter of introduction, but Dorabeth, as Captain Demrick called her, is insistent, "I am very sorry but the Consul is in a very important consultation and must not be disturbed."
Wuliem can tell that the architecture is old Chelish but that the many columns are a recent, largely ornamental addition.