You may dot in here.
|
The esteemed scholar, and member of the society known as Khelleck enters the venture captains office.
He tilts his glasses at Meran, trying to remember which of his classes she had been in.
"Meran isn't it? I recall teaching you early Taldan history. If I remember correctly you even managed to pass it."
A smile crosses his face. "Quite a feat. I seem to recall few of your class mates managing it."
|
|
"If only all my students studied hard. Most seem to think that somehow being good with a sword, or being able to cast pretty spells will somehow make them expert scholars. No! History is hard work!"
It would appear the elderly man is about to enter full rant mode!
"Let us see if what we have learned will be put to good use by the captain. I do hope there will be no more crawling through sewers. That is not a respectable habit for a man of my distinguished years."
|
A tall man walks into the room. He wears a set of scale mail with a tabard depicting a long sword pointing down. He scans the room, looking at the faces of this group.
hmm..first assignment. two females and an old man. i thought this to be a rescue mission.
Greeting everyone, I am Roran Garrowson, Squire just turned Knight of Iomedae, ordered by Ollysta herself to lend aide to you all today. With that he takes a side step to the door, aligning himself with the edge of the door frame.
|
A hulking figure in full plate strides into the room.
Removing his great helm, he reveals robust half-elven features, his face (marred on one cheek by a birthmark that looks somewhat like a wasp) curving into a smile as he sees that there are several ladies amid the party.
"Ah! 'Tis gratifying to have such pleasant company! My name is Jarlaxle." So saying, he bows deeply with a rather ostentatious flourish, and a wink in Meran's direction. "I am what could be described as a jack-of-all-trades, but I think my best talent is being able to go into dangerous situations, and not die!"
|
|
ah...another. Jack of all trades..might come in handy. But armored like a warrior caste
Roran looks at the new face in the room. He admires his armor from a distance, a tad too bulky for his liking, but likes the sturdiness of it.
Oh it looks like you have been touched by Calistia her self. Are you one of her warriors?
|
|
Affinity with Calistia? Let us hope nobody annoys him!
The elderly scholar can't quite keep a look of concern out of his eyes and he peers at the armored warrior.
One is tempted to make a joke about swordplay, to break the ice.
He looks the warrior up and down again, and decides discretion is the better part of a big mouth.
"Do you expect the mission to have...religious overtones?" he asks.
|
|
Jarlaxle winks at Khellek.
"Good Sir, I don't like to declare myself one way or the other, until I know more about the mission at hand. If you are asking whether I have some divine inspiration about what might happen, the answer is no. I generally find that the Gods help those that help themselves, and as long as you honor your chosen Patron in your own way (and don't cross them), they tend to leave you to your own devices..."
|
Another woman joins the party, face flushed from hurrying to catch them up. Still, she carries herself in a dignified way. Her face is serene before greeting her new companions.
"Well met, everyone. I am Althera. I command a few spells and have been training as a diplomat and negotiator."
She takes up a place where she can observe the conversation among the entire group.
|
|
A young woman of Varisian decent enters the room quietly due to the on-going conversation. A white-fured cat with black coloration around all four-paws, tail, nose, and ears follows behind her. She slips her backpack to the ground and waits for an appropriate time to introduce herself.
|
|
Khellek grants Jarlaxle a nod of his head.
"The same might be said of many a noble patron."
He smiles at the newly arrived Althera and Emilia. "And I am a scholar. A historian of note. I'm hoping to conduct some research on the local history of Sauerton while we are there. And to win myself a place on the historical expedition to the World Wound. This time Dr Jones will not be the one with his face on the Chronicles!"
The last sentence is delivered in quite a vigorous manner for a man of his respectable age.
To Emila in particular he offers a lovely smile. "A lady from my homeland of old? Do you dance?"
|
|
Emilia returns the smile to the older man. "Indeed. Although not very well, I'm afraid." While she appears light on her feet, her gait is not very graceful. "I once hailed from the wilder lands around the Lost Coast. What of yourself, goodsir?" She suddenly seems to recall her manners. "Pardon, I ask intimate questions of a stranger without first introducing myself. My name is Emilia Cosovei, but you all may refer to me as 'Em' if you prefer." The cat meows from below. "Yes, yes, I heard you. And this is Cinderfoot, my familiar."
|
|
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. I'm Meran as singer of little note, and very average student. I hope where we are going is temperate. I've been to the desert and the frozen north for the Society. I'd like to avoid burning or freezing this time." she smiles and nods politely to all the other Pathfinders assembled.
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 hair-thin 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.”
|
|
Sir, I have no question. Seems like a strait forward mission. Rescue Thalia and return her home. Attempt to secure aide for the crusade from Andares. And bring to light any corruption we may find
With that Roran picks up the letter of introduction, gives a quick salute to the Captain. He then turns on his heels and heads out the door.
Hmm..maybe I should of waited until dismissed. Maybe the others have questions. Do I go back inside? No. Do not want to look incompetent. Just wait for the others, then we will go to the docks together.
|
|
"Thank you, sirs, for entrusting us with this important assignment.
I must confess, I don't recall much about Benedict or his writings,
despite being Andoran myself. Perhaps you can enlighten us, Master Khellek?"
Finally, a chance to get outside Absalom! And a mission from Major Maldris himself, no less. I have heard of corruption in our homeland, but had hoped for better. I suppose I'll have to keep my eyes and ears open.
|
|
"Before we go..." asks Khellek.
"Could you perhaps fill in the rest of the team about 'corruption' and the Andares family. That is... do you have reason to suspect Tercio of corruption himself, or any involvement in his daughters vanishing?"
He ponders what he knows of the area, local politics, the families in question and rumors on the street.
Sauerton is infamous for its cheap and widely distributed wine, called Sauerton Red. It has become immortalized in an Andoren proverb that something of poor quality “must be down from Sauerton.” Sauerton is a large town located in wine country in northeast Andoran, about equally distant from the Andoshen River, which is used to ship wine to Andoran’s southern ports for export, and the Verduran Forest, which occupies much of the tense border with Taldor and Galt. Sauerton has been a site of productive vineyards for centuries, and the once-noble Andares family has been a major owner of those vineyards since long before the People’s Revolt. Although the Andares family chose to give up their noble privileges during the revolt, nearly every mayor of Sauerton in the 44 years since has been a member or close relative of the Andares family.
Also, you know that Alysande Benedict is a deceased Andoren revolutionary who wrote passionately in favor of peace, freedom, and justice. She is lovingly known throughout Andoran as Lady Liberty.
|
|
The elderly scholar pushes his glasses to the front of his nose, clears his throat and begins to lecture.
"While Tercio is mayor, and the major employer in Sauerton, few have been willing to speak against him. Still, there are some who have said his family is corrupt and he uses his influence to try and further his own family. Of course, there will be those who would say such things about anyone in power."
While stern, the scholars voice is compelling and he delivers the oration with clear annunciation and in an interesting fashion.
"The Sauerton Red, which is the base of the family fortune, is perhaps not the highest quality wine in the world, but it is cheap and vast quantities of it are produced, making the family famous, and rich, and thus perhaps a good target for kidnappers."
He pauses. "Interestingly, the essays our victim was reading were by Alysande Benedict is a deceased Andoren revolutionary who wrote passionately in favor of peace, freedom, and justice. She is lovingly known throughout Andoran as Lady Liberty."
Your voyage up the Andoshen River is swift, and you
enjoy good weather until the last hour, when a light rain
begins to fall. The Andares’s manor is not difficult to find,
being one of several dozen stately homes still standing in
the town as functional reminders of a past age’s nobility.
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.
As you enter Sauerton, a halfling wearing
light armor and a rain-spattered helmet hails you.
"I am Captain Merton Demrick of the nation of Andoran. May I ask what your business is in our fair city?"
|
|
*earlier*
Althera nods at Khellek's speech, cursing herself mildly under her breath that she forgot Lady Liberty's given name.
And I even mistook her for a man!
Her face flushes slightly, but she is quick to compose herself.
*Presently*
Once the team disembarks, Althera decides to share a piece of their story with the guard captain:
"Sir, we are here to speak with Mayor Andares on a matter of some delicacy. Would you kindly point us in the direction of the manor?"
|
|
Khellek put on his best smile for the captain. He clears his voice and then with crisp annunciation asks
"I was also hoping to acquire a copy of the essays of Alysande Benedict while I was in town. Could you be so kind as to direct me to a local book seller or library where I might find such writings?"
<-versatile performance (oratory). <-presumably an aid to Althera
Captain Demrick nods at your comments. "Certainly, I will take you to the mayor's home. Our town's bookseller is on the way, so we can stop in there on our way past."
The bookstore is closed, with a sign on the door: CLOSED FOR FAMILY EVENT, will reopen next week
Demrick shakes his head, and continues to escort you to the mayor's home.
After a short walk, you find your way to the Andares mansion. The mansion stands at the edge of a beautiful green and has a facade dominated by fine marble pillars.
The architecture is old Chelish but the many columns are a recent, largely ornamental addition.
The door is answered by an older woman. She has a hooked nose, is thin, and her graying hair is pulled back into a bun. Her clothing is cheap but neat, what would be expected of a well-treated servant. "Yes???" she says after opening the door, looking at you expectantly.
The woman's mouth sets into a thin line. "The master is not to be disturbed."
|
|
Khellek offers her as close to a winning smile as an old scholar can.
"Ma'am. I'm sure Mayor Andares finds having his daughter missing more disturbing than our visit. We have been requested to provide assistance. Do you have somewhere we can wait until he is free?"
From putting up with inattentive students, Khellek has become somewhat used to reading his audience, and he puts those skills to use as he wonders why the servant is being obstructive.
"All right, come on in. You can wait for the master in here," the old servant tells you. She takes you (and Demrick) into a comfortable parlor. "You know, I think it's those Kyonin elves that took the young mistress. They probably want to sacrifice her to their forest gods. You never know what an elf might do." Dorabeth then looks guilty for a moment as she sees Meran's ears.
After a bit of small talk with Dorabeth, Demrick remarks, "The mayor has received a huge surge in popularity, turning what was going to be a rough election into what looks to be a landslide. His rivals in the People’s Council had been criticizing his failure to keep the countryside and town’s perimeter safe from wildlife dangers coming out from the Verduran Forest, but nobody is willing to entertain their criticism of a man whose daughter is missing. It’s funny. Anytime things seem to go badly for an Andares, there always seems to be a silver lining or convenient turn of events.”
|
|
Khellek takes a seat in the parlor, sinking into the leather luxery and enjoying taking the weight of his feet.
Stretching out his legs, he warms his hands at a fire while eyes scan the walls for signs of an interesting book to read while he waits.
"One would hardly regard having your daughter kidnapped as convenient." he notes.
Or is she telling us that this has been engineered by the mayor somehow? Politics... may as well be in Cheliax.
"What are some of the other silver lining that have happened?" he asks, curiosity piqued.
Demrick is opening his mouth to answer Khellek when he suddenly looks up. A tall Taldan man who has aged gracefully
with curly, graying black hair (clearly Tercio Andares) opens the parlor
door for another man, saying, “I thank you again for your concern, cousin Sander, but the services of the Eagle Knights are not called for here. Surely you would not risk Thalia’s safety in such a bold manner.”
He pauses when he notices your group and greets Captain Demrick. You think you might see a hint of quickly suppressed exasperation before he turns to you and says, "Hello, who are you? Unless your need is urgent, I don't really have time to talk today."
Andares takes the letter and reads carefully. "Welcome to our town. I'm sorry, but I cannot help you. I have been threatened that if I do, my daughter will be harmed.
|
|
Althera listens to the opening exchanges of conversation.
"Sir, we do not necessarily need your direct aid. While I do hope that our coming here doesn't endanger your daughter further, now that we are here perhaps we can speak discreetly?"
"You might establish a list of places or persons we ought to avoid, perhaps?"
"Or simply let us know of any knowledgable friends or family members who are nearby?"