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The grandmother has been quietly observing the entire interaction then nods quietly as she considers Shelia's offer of something to drink.
"Tea, dear, and that fine cream you offer alongside it."
More discussion ensues as the grandmother continues to listen.
"It's not easy being a good person, and the road is hard. Grandmother knows that, but rewards those who do try their hardest. Much like Stali said, trust your judgement, but..."
The paladin reaches into her haversack and pulls out a bag of coin.
"This is not a bribe. If, in the event we are unable to find any of the information you would have us seek, this should be deposited on behalf of the people of Ravenmoor to settle their tax debt for the past few years, if that is acceptable, miss?"
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She really shouldn't be paying their taxes like that. I don't think the village just conveniently forgot to pay for the last fifteen years. If I were to guess, the tax money has been collected but not sent to Magnimar.
"Wouldn't it look worse if the taxes were suddenly paid with no explanation? I think we need to find out what is happening first." Stali points out.
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"Sometimes, just sometimes good people need a little help to get their lives straightened out. This is just what the God of Walls and Ditches would call 'an insurance policy'. I really want to go visit this community and learn about their ways, dear. Don't think we're getting out of this one that easily."
I've seen blood taxes, kiddo. I've seen unscrupulous governments use them to milk every last bit of life out of a community and then take people and everything they have. Just trying to make sure that they're taken care of if we're not successful, because I have a bad feeling in my bones on this one, and I don't know why.
"And as far as explanation? An anonymous benefactor stepped up to address the concern at the last minute. I'm sure it happens all the time in a massive city like Magnimar."
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Who would have thought that somebody so old would be so incredibly naive and flat out stupid? There is no evidence that ANYBODY involved in this is "good". And that money could be far better used for a great many purposes. Still, no reason to say anything, changing that old birds mind is impossible
"Well, I think we're all agreed. We'll find out what happened and hopefully find your brother in law. Or, at least, find out what happened to him"
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Chak had been studying the letter for quite some time and so intently that he missed some of the conversation around him.
"Your brother is quite rude, discourteous and unmannerly. I happen to know many farmers in Illsurian and they are hardly, dumb, unintelligent or feebleminded, even if they require my help, aid, and assistance with their documents, contracts, and records."
Chak puts his beak as close to the paper as Jeminda will allow.
"Do you happen to have, possess and bear any other letters, messages, or missives from Elias?"
Jeminda Anikee stares at the bag of coin for a long while and then slowly pushes it back towards the old grandmother. "What sort of a person do you think I am?" She blinks. "Look, I know you mean well, but I'd rather lose my job than cover up a problem with other people's money. I just want to find out what's been happening with the taxes in Ravenmoor, and find out what is happening with my brother in law."
She passes Chak other letters from Elias. The missives are all in the same vein: short, arrogant and breezy. "I know that. I think Elias was a little cocky and dismissive at times, but he's the only family I have now. Please bring him home if you can."
"Oh, yes, the map!" Jeminda Anikee rolls out a map. "I've marked Ravenmoor for you. According to my records, most of the taxes were paid in the past by members of the Kriegler family -- it looks like they've been mayors of this town going way back over a hundred years. Though... it's been 15 years since the last taxes were paid. Maybe someone else is in charge now?"
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Ravenmoor (Knowledge Local or Geography)
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The grandmother will take back the bag and stow it once more in her haversack with a nod of approval. If anything, her demeanor has brightened a bit for those paying attention, and she stands up a bit straighter, not leaning as much on her quarterstaff.
"You're a good person who wants to see right done for everyone, dear. We'll do our best to make sure that we get all the answers you're looking for, and any additional answers that might also help you help others."
Sheila claps her hands. "Well, it sounds like you should get started right away. Any last questions before you get your supplies and set out?"
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After Stali leaves the parlor, Stali contacts on of the servants telling them he would like a short visit with Venture Captain Heidmarch before the group leaves.
At the meeting after exchanging the normal pleasantries, he says "I felt my remaining question was one best asked privately. What are you seeking for the society from this mission? It obviously isn't of direct financial benefit. I am quite capable of speculating on the motives, but felt in order to avoid confusion it would be best to directly ask you."
Sheila smiles. "You've always been a canny one, Stali. I'm always interested in repairing the society's reputation and forging political connections. You never know when we might need a friendly voice in local government."
She thrums her fingers on the table. "Too often we've been seen as irresponsible murder hoboes. It's also an intriguing little mystery concerning an isolated backwater... All in all, something worth looking into that may pay off well with contacts later on. Does that answer your question?"
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"Well it appears your brother, had been off the wagon, intoxicated, and inebriated when he penned this letter here, this one here, and this here. But these latest, recent, and current letters show much more flowing script and clarity of thought in his words. That means he showed purposefulness, determination and resolve. While it is possible he quickly slipped back, regressed and relapsed, the lack of missing contact may be an indication that he has found himself in trouble, danger, or peril of some other kind."
"You know, I did read a poem about Ravenmoor once:"
"Ah, Ravenmoor, The More Raven Moor, nestled in River Lampblack.
Curious people those farmers be, though Desna has their back.
No trade have they no want of roads so to very few they matter.
So rumors fly amongst Varisian folk that they're madder than a hatter."
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Nodding his head, Stali says "Yes, and thank you for the answer."
"Judging from the map that Jeminda provided, the most obvious route is via the river. Since the village is so isolated, I'm wondering what is the best way to arrange the return trip. I would not enjoy trudging through swamps in order to walk back."
Pausing, he adds "Perhaps we can talk to the people in Galduria about this."
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"Hopefully there is some kind of regular or semi regular traffic up the Lampback River. If not, perhaps we can buy or hire a small riverboat in Galduria. At any rate, heading up to Galduria seems to be the obvious place to start. We can even make inquiries about the brother while we are there"
After we are all alone, he turns to Sheila
"I am assuming that everybody realizes that it is possible that he has just embezzled the funds and left. One reason we should see if can pick up his trail in Galduria. If we find that out what do you want us to to?"
Ravenmoor is located almost 250 miles from Magnimar through foothills, forests, and marshland. Those traveling from Magnimar to Ravenmoor essentially have two choices: the Lost Coast Road or the Yondabakari River. While the Lost Coast route is overland, the river route is longer. Both routes meet up in Galduria; from there the rest of the journey is generally made via horseback along a well-traveled road on the western shore of the Lampblack River. As the Lampblack curves away to the east, this road continues north along the edge of Churlwood, eventually reaching Roderic's Cove and Riddleport. Travelers to Ravenmoor must abandon the road at this bend in the river to follow a little-used trail up along the river's west banks.
Galduria is a University Town, famed for its Twilight Academy of the Arcane. It has some river trade and fishing, but its main business is the Academy. There are numerous private dormitories and apartments that cater to Students of the Academy, as well as four different taverns and a temple of Abadar that rents out rooms to travelers who are passing through.
Travel costs are covered by Sheila. She'll give you a writ that covers inn stays and will let you use some of the lesser Heidmarch horses. They're not combat-trained, so if you want better you'll have to buy them. Either way, you'll arrive in Galduria without issue.
If you like, you can give me Diplomacy Checks (with the questions you're asking) for all the relevant locations that might house a traveler passing through Galduria:
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Vralk tries to find the best sources of Bacon AND Pies. And, especially, bacon pies.
Oh, and he tries to find out what foods RavenMoor is especially known for.
Why won't people talk to me? They just watch me dance. I DO dance well but they really should talk to me too!!"
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Gallako will ask around the town, especially at the inns, looking for any information at all about Ravenmoor and any information about Elias Kyle. He'll concentrate on the somewhat downscale taverns (just based on the names I'm guessing those are the With and Al's)
Oh, and after Vralk comes to him dejected about not being able to locate a good pie seller, he'll ask about Pie :-).
Not sure if you want one roll for everything or one per so I'll do one per. Just take the first if you only wanted one
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Andrietta is a bit more straight-forward, and lets folks know that she's stopping by the local bank to check on a few things,as it would seem reasonable that a tax collector might find lodging under the aegis of the God of Walls and Ditches.
When the party regroups and Andrietta hears Vralk's woes, she'll nod sagely.
"Vralk, dear, you might be dressed too well. Everyone might be paying attention to the shiny clothing and not to what you have to say. We'll find some pie for you, I promise."
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Stali figures that where a name might not be remembered, people will remember a short, stocky red-headed Ulfen. He will ask around, describing the man and his destination. After mentioning Ravenmoor, he will then ask if they have ever been there or met someone from there.
Seeing where the others are headed, he will concentrate on the stables and any general stores where Elias may have gotten more supplies. He will purchase some of the group's supplies as he visits the store.
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Visiting the drunken arcanist, After all, I'm an arcanist of sorts. .
Walking up to people, "Um . . Hi. . I'm Sarano, a pathfinder, and I-I was just wondering if you know anything about Ravenmoor? I'm on my way there now and was just wondering about the town, its rather secretive,"
But the tough drunks at the Ale Arcanist are just too tough and scary and Sarano ended up accidentally talking with a broom in the corner.
"Oh. . you're a broom. . oh. .I'm just no good at this
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You all tromp around the wet cobbled streets of Galduria, in and out of the fish market and around the University area, past groups of chatting young scholars in their robes.
Gallako finds some nice clam pie for Vralk at the Merry Mage. He turns out to be the social butterfly of the group, making rounds of all the bars showing off his crazy familiar, who amuses nearly everyone.
What he discovers is that the bartender at the Drunken Arcanist barely remembers someone who looked like Kyle. "The ugly jerk with a shock of red hair and a smashed nose? Yeah, I told him that if he was going to act like a sailor who just came into port, he didn't belong in my place, bothering the gals who come in. Especially because when those gals get mad, they can set fire to the furniture, you know? NOT good for business." He sighs. "I told him to haul his ass over to Al's."
In the same establishment, Sarano has a lovely conversation with a broom until one of the young witches at one of the wooden booths leans over. "That's my broom. Er... What are you doing, talking to it? You know that brooms aren't familiars, right?"
The Temple of Abadar has no recollection of Kyle. "Sorry, we might have remembered someone like him, but he never came by."
Stali has a nice conversation with the general store manager and manages to buy some supplies, but they have no memory of the ulfen either.
When the group gets to Al's Ale, they discover it's the kind of place where people mind their own business and the floor is always sticky. No one there remembers the Ulfen, though a discreet bribe from Gallako with Sheila's money reveals that a E.K. signed into the room log, paid cash, and left the next day.
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After leaving Al's Stali comments "It seems there are worse places to go than through a swamp." as he tries to scrape something he can't identify off the bottom of his soft leather boots.
"Shall we stay the night in town? Perhaps at the Drunken Arcanist? Leave for Ravenmoor in the early morning?"
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"That sounds like a good plan, let's make sure to order bacon for the morning meal."
Andrietta is a bit more perturbed that the working theory of the tax collector running off is becoming a bit more plausible based on the research so far. She's still holding out hope that this isn't as bad as it seems, though.
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To Vralk
"Nice try Vralk. Let the others have their share of the pie too. It IS rather good isn't it?"
To Stali
"I reserve judgement on which is worse until after we go through the swamp"
"Yes, a night at the Drunken Arcanist and setting off tomorrow sounds fine"
And to the group as a whole
"Kyle didn't make much of an impression. Hard to tell if he was here twice or just the once but it seems possible that it was only the once.
At least he wasn't spending big (that would have been noticed). So, a tiny bit of negative evidence that he didn't steal the money"
Breakfast is fortifying. Lots of coffee, bacon, fruit, toast and eggs for those who'll eat them.
You do about three days travel on the light horses that Sheila Heidmarch provided you. You follow the little-used trail up along the river's west banks into increasingly dreary landscapes of bogland and bleak moors. During the day, the preponderance of ravens in the skies gives subtle encouragement that one is on the right track to Ravenmoor, but as the sun sets, the mosquitoes come alive. The trail itself often winds away from the river and soggy boglands to avoid the worst of these pests, but on your final night on the trek to Ravenmoor, the clouds of insects become a constant annoyance.
Fortunately, a solid beating rain brings you relief of a sorts, though the path is muddy and the cold rain soaks through most of your clothing. You hear the raucous caws of ravens in the distance.
You all hear the sound of a young boy's voice calling out, “Aaaaaaplesaaaauce! Here boy! C'meer boy!” followed by some whistling, as if a child were seeking a missing puppy. This comes from the tall grass growing to the left of the road.
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Gallako speaks at a normal tone, enough so his friends can hear
"There is something in the bushes to the right/ May be an ambush, may be the childs pet. Be careful"
With that, he'll dismount and take out his flag with the Sign of the Open Road
(everybody within 30 ft of him get a +1 to hit/damage and a +1 on Fear effects)
Stali, you're up. You still don't see it, and it's pretty muddy and mucky in this grass, but you're pretty sure you saw grass rustle nearby.
All of a sudden, a creature flies out of the grass, flying and spinning in a confused, out of control manner. This insectoid creature has two pairs of bat wings, a tangle of thin legs, and a needle-sharp proboscis. It flies straight at Sarano, and attaches itself to her, quivering.
The whole party's up!
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Hearing 'Applesauce', Chak became hungry, his thoughts began to wander.
"Applesauce sounds delicious right now. How long has it been since we ate? I really should write that sort of thing down. It might save me from starving to death one day."
It was only when the creature jumped out of the grass that events startled Chak back to the here and now.
"WAAAAARRRK!"
Chak takes a moment to look at the odd creature noticing it's confused pattern of flight.
"I think the creature is addled, bewildered and discombobulated."
He tries to pry it off Sarano with a delicate claw.
Chak leaps and grapples the confused bug, who buzzes with a high pitched scream as it's pulled off Sarano, its wings batting frantically against Chak!
Stali, Gallako, Vralk and Andrietta are still up.