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"Well done locating that chest, Criscius!
Let me take a look at this. Hmmm, that lock is in bad shape. I'm going to need to be able to move freely in order to open this."
Jacques takes off his pack and chain shirt while handing off the torch to someone else.
"Right, then, let's see if we can't get this thing to work right."
Jacques gets out his picks and starts to carefully work the tumblers.
Jacques proves surprisingly - even conspiciously - good with locks, and cracks the lockbox open after a few minutes of getting hunched over the lock. The lockbox contains several silver and gold bars stamped with the insignia of a Chelish noble house. In addition, there are three carefully folded pieces of parchment. Two of them feature arcane writings, while the third is written in plain if excessively flourished script and presents a contract promising aid from House Morilla of Taldor to the Sauer family in return for future favors.
You are fairly certain that the Morilla family has not ever received such aid, meaning the contract is technically valid to this day.
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"What are these, scrolls? And some old contract? Probably with a devil, knowing Cheliax.
Old papers are usually worth something to someone, the trick is in knowing how much before you try to fence... er, SELL, them.
Now, GOLD, that's worth the same everywhere."
Jacques starts putting his armor back on as we spread the bars out between our packs.
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"I suppose we'll need to ask some questions about this House Morillia mentioned in the contract.
Maybe it will have some sentimental value to them that we can parley into some help for the Lodge's efforts."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Broad country roads lead in four directions away from a crossroad.
To the north, the road to the Sauer Vineyard cuts among golden fields and lush vineyards.
To the south, the road into Sauerton is flanked by sparse and apparently abandoned houses.
To the west, the road to the Andares manor winds through a grove of apple trees whose leaves have begun to yellow.
To the east, fields stretch among rolling hills as far as the eye can see, with long autumn wheat lolling in the wind.
On the southeast corner, an empty shop sits boarded up with broken windows. On the southwest corner, a sign advertises Koriana’s Exotic Tonics and Remedies and boasts of “long forgotten delights from all across the Inner Sea.”
As you hasten your steps to reach the shop, you hear loud noises from your left. Turning around, you see a pack of feral dogs charging at you across the field!
Jacques and Criscius handily dispatch two of the animals before they are able to do any harm. The last one snarls its jaws as it is getting ready to charge at you.
The last dog dies a grisly death, its charred body spreading sickening smell of burnt flesh and hair. Not long afterwards, the shop's door opens up and a young man in stained coats hurries towards you.
I think I heard a fight - are you hurt? The roads have become dangerous as of late. You are in luck to be near an alchemy shop! You can get a potion to treat your wounds right here. He motions you to follow him inside.
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"Well, I wouldn't quite call it a fight. I am surprised that a pack of feral dogs would be roaming this close to town without someone hunting them down, though.
Still, preparedness is the better part of valor. We will check out this alchemy shop of yours. Koriana's Tonics, is it?
Who is this Koriana? A relation of yours?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"A relation? Only in the broadest sense of the word, she is my employer. I am Barnabas, Koriana's apprentice. Still need to practice for a couple of years before I can open my own shop, though she always tells me I'm lacking the business sense so perhaps I'll just go to Almas to get a proper degree instead."
Zorahas doesn't find anything in the man's plain appearance and disheveled look that would seem out of place with his story.
Barnabas wastes no time in knocking on the front door of the shop, which is opened by a burly-looking human, more likely to be a bouncer than an alchemist.
"Jyrnas, get the mistress in here quick, we've got customers!" he tells the man, before leading you inside.
The shop is spacious and lined with rack upon wooden rack of exotic herbs, spices, tonics, smoking paraphernalia, and a smattering of glass vials of brightly colored liquids. More such vials stand in display inside a glass-fronted countertop. Strange and smoky odors waft from a back room past a mostly closed door. Jyrnas opens the door and calls a middle-aged half-elf woman with platinum blonde hair, gray-green apothecary’s robes, and huge goggles into the front room, then stands beside the door with his hands crossed and his stare vacant.
"I'm Koriana Verdothia, welcome to my humble tonic shop", the woman greets you as she sizes you up with a look of an experienced saleswoman.
It is not every day that I'm honored to see Pathfinders in my shop, she continues with an small tilt of the head. "What kind of a remedy or tonic would you like to purchase?"
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Jacques saunters up to the counter while curling his mustaches and giving the shelves an appraising look.
He subtly gives Criscius a look while indicating the bouncer
"I can't recall ever seeing a guard in an apothecary before. Are you expecting trouble.
No matter, the four of us are fine. But we do have some friends who need some healing salves.
It seems that these friends of ours took on some work for some Gardners, but their formerly green thumbs have curled up and turned Gray."
Jacques will pause dramatically while attempting to discern her reaction.
"Have you ever heard of anything like that? Probably something toxic in the soil they tend.
It's like I tried to tell him, 'Almant, you should be careful who you accept work from, as you might get caught up in the repercussions of your employers bad actions'.
Well, now he's seen the errors of his ways and is on his way. He said something about wanting some repayment for bad information.
I'm hoping to persuade him to go on home, but it seems I'll need to redirect him.
Ah well, about those healing salves..."
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Zorahas wonders if this woman is having as much trouble following Jacques' logic as himself. heh
-Posted with Wayfinder
Koriana listens to Jacques' story with a smile affixed to her face, then motions to her apprentice. "Thank you for bringing these gentlemen here Barnabas, I believe I have the right salves for their friends. Indeed, as we alchemists know very well, the prettiest flower in a garden often has the most wicked barbs. Speaking of which, did you finish distilling that mandragora root I brought you yesterday? No? I thought as much; please get to it. I will need the essence tomorrow."
As she closes the door behind the hurried apprentice, she turns to you, her smile waning and her gaze hardening as she drops her pretense.
"So, Almant failed his task then. I didn't place much faith in the Galtan anyway. But then, I didn't really expect a mercenary group of Pathfinders to meddle in the local affairs.
Now, I’d rather not see this turn to uncivilized violence. Although you may think I enjoy profiting from healing injuries inflicted in this neighborhood, I consider it unprofessional for customers to get those injuries inside my own shop. Let’s talk this over a cup of tea, shall we? Or perhaps I can indulge you in something stronger?"
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"My dear lady, of course we can talk. While I don't share your hesitation for violence, it would be a shame to see such a lovely face with blood on it."
He twirls his mustaches while giving her an appraising look. If she thinks I can be swayed by her beauty, all the better for me.
"However, if you think I am stupid enough to drink anything a suspect apothecary hands me, perhaps I should feel insulted.
I am sure you didn't mean to insult us, so I'll simply assume you had innocent intentions and move on. Come. Let us sit and talk. We are very interested in what the plan was after the abduction had been completed."
Jacques will look around for a stool to sit on, then wait patiently for the woman to continue.
A twinkle sparkles in Koriana's eye at Jacques' words.
Now, I see you are as sharp as you are charming. The same could not be said of all Pathfinders I met. I think your organisation must be stifling for one such able as you are. But if you think I would try to poison you - you are mistaken. I merely wish to relax any tensions that you may have so that we could have a level-headed and pragmatic discussion, free from unnecessary outbursts.
She moves to the cupboard behind the counter, full of vials and boxes, takes a few pinches of herbs from the different boxes and quickly mixes them in a pot, then lights up a vial underneath, which glows with intense violet flame for a moment and the liquid in the pot starts bubbling almost instantly, filling the room with soothing herbal aromas.
"I will have some tea anyway with your permission, feel free to partake if you desire."
"We all have our goals", she continues after a long sip, "And I will share mine if you indulge my curiosity. The elder Andares did not hire you to investigate, so who did? Last I heard you were not a pious organisation or affiliated with Bellflower Network so you're not acting out of any sense of righteousness, however misguided. So pray tell, what is a band of Pathfinders hoping to acquire here? "
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Jacques is not about to change his mind about drinking her tea. She has probably taken an antidote or built up an immunity.
The fragrance of the boiling tea itself is making him nervous. Some drugs and poisons are inhaled after all.
"Politics is as it ever was.
Some seek to influence politics through nefarious means, others see opportunity to gain good will through otherwise altruistic means.
We seek the good will of those with the political and military power to influence our goals.
This is not a hidden objective, nor one that I feel the need to lie about. I scratch your back has ever been the mantra of the tradesman.
You, however, appear to have taken a different tact.
Quid pro quo now, whose interests are you supporting?"
Zorahas finds the herbal tea tasting a bit funny but doesn't feel any harmful effects.
Koriana looks incredulously at Jacques. "You have all the right to be cautious, I take no offense. But where was your caution when you decided to meddle, uninvited, in Sauerton's local affairs? I have good reason to believe you were explicitly told to stay out of this case by the people currently in power. How then, may I ask, do you expect to achieve your goal, now that you are assuredly out of favor with the local elite?"
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"The only way those in power would not appreciate the rescue of the mayor's daughter would be if the mayor himself was behind the abduction. If that is the case, exposing such evil activities will surely win us some favor with his opponents and the more righteous forces within Andoran.
Your inside knowledge of private conversations we have had seems to indicate that he might be the one behind the actions. If so, I am going to need some proof. Otherwise, start telling us the truth or we will simply drag you before the proper authorities down in Augustana and let them sort it out."
The alchemist bursts into laughter.
"There is no proof for you but my word. The authorities won't even get that. I am not stupid to be leaving any hard evidence.
Besides, should you and Thalia - provided she's still alive by the time the trial starts - somehow be successful in making your case, the due process would take months, and the turmoil of trials for his suspected collaborators will linger for years. I would add that the chances of the court finding enough evidence to convict Tercio beyond reasonable doubt are far from as high as you'd like them to be.
But let's even assume you have your way and everything stacks up in your favor and Andares and everyone he colluded with are convicted. Who is then going to give you your favours? Thalia? She has no power, she is just a common citizen. Her father's estate and riches, if the law finds them to be acquired unjustly, will be confiscated by the state and she will not be able to control them. Further than that, supporting Thalia will risk the stability of the entire region, triggering a veritable witch hunt for corrupt politicians that would harm innocent leaders and direct attention away from any foreign problems instead of toward them. In fact, convicting Tercio puts your entire mission at risk.
I, on the other hand, have Tercio's ear and I know I can convince him to use his resources to back your mission, if only you agree to step away from the private affairs of his family."
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"You'd be surprised about the resources the Society can bring to bear in order to make sure the guilty get their comeuppance.
After all, we were resourceful enough to know exactly where you had attempted to hide Thalia and resourceful enough to know that you were the interloper. Now that we know the correct questions to ask, perhaps the Society's necromancers can simply ask your corpse to give some truthful answers.
That said, I'd rather not involve any additional risk. Plus, I am a smuggler by trade, and a corrupt politician is every smuggler's best friend.
Still, taking your own daughter hostage and employing people who would sell her to the likes of the Galtans, is reprehensible. Dealing with such a man leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
Jacques strokes his chin speculatively, while considering Koriana.
"A great evil brews to the north, and we need political, financial, and military support in order to meet that that evil on the field. Acquiring that aid is more important than some minor moral objections.
Let us go to Andares forthwith. Speak to him. Help us to convince him that supporting the Society is in his best interest. Get him to help us convince Bryton to engage the Eagle Knights.
Under those conditions, we can overlook your transgressions."
Jacques stands, clearly considering the discussion to be at an end and ready to escort Koriana to the Andares manor.
Koriana stands up too. "I will go with you after I have Thalia safely in my custody. Otherwise this whole conversation was a waste of time and Tercio will not listen to either you or me. I assure you she will not be hurt - you should have seen that she was treated well by my allies, and any inconveniences she had to suffer were to keep up appearances rather than out of any ill will.
We did not orchestrate her ultimate destination before she had time to ruin everything, so this kidnapping was merely a temporary solution. Imagine, if you will, that news comes of a dashing Qadiran prince rescuing Thalia from the kidnappers as they took her to their employer in Absalom, and she chooses to marry him straightaway and live out her days in his distant homeland surrounded by luxury. Or it turns out she was taken by slavers to Thuvia, where she was freed by an order of monks that she then decided to join.
Although there is no denying she will no longer be a part of the Andares family, I promise that I will do my best to ensure that no harm will come to her wherever she goes."
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"I think it might be best if she were to travel with us to Augustana. I care not what story you choose to tell.
Her passion will fit in perfectly with the Liberty's Edge, and if for some reason she can't learn the skills to to be effective for that organization, the Society will be sure to find a place for her."
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"Just to clarify: We will allow no harm to come to Thalia.
We will take you with us, but you are to do no more than talk to her without her leave.
I hope we have an understanding."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Koriana frowns and harumphs.
"So is your plan to have one of the Andoren venture-captains testify on Thalia's behalf against her father? I will not let this happen for Tercio will have my head. I am only letting her go with you on the condition that she will be delivered incognito outside of Andoran borders and Tercio will not lend you any official aid until he has verified proof of that. If you are willing to take the job the Galtans failed to do, I am on board. But I will not let you take myself hostage, and Jyrnas is coming with me as a bodyguard."
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"Difficult times call for difficult choices."
Then, as an aside, making sure they can't be overheard.
"Perhaps once the Worldwound has been properly sealed again, we can urge the Society to revisit the issue.
Regardless of who is in charge, I think Thalia would be much better off asserting herself somewhere else for a time."
-Posted with Wayfinder