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Khellek puffs out his rather small chest at the mention of chivalry.
Actually I was more concerned with having to explain to her parents how we rescued her in good health and then had her face burned off by an alchemist. But a pretty young thing like that Emilia calling me Chivalrous!
"Hmm, yes. Well, She is old enough to make her own decisions. I just hope her parents see it that way too."
Thalia chuckles a little at hearing you refer to Koriana as 'him.' "I'll show you the way to Koriana's shop. She's the only alchemist in town."
Walking with Thalia, you come to a crossroads. Broad country roads lead in four directions. 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 “longforgotten delights from all across the Inner Sea.”
Standing in the crossroads is an elderly farmer, leading a cow into town. As you approach, a small pack of rabid dogs attacks them.
Jarlaxle and Emelia may act.
The first feral dog collapses to a mangy pile of bones and fur.
Emelia?
Emilia's acid seems to damage a tuft of the dog's fur, but otherwise leaves it unharmed.
Two of the dogs seem too busy attacking the farmer and cow to notice you yet.
The other dog moves towards Jarlaxle, biting at him.
However, he slips a little as he tries to bite and his jaws miss.
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"Oh my, oh my" says Khellek as he fumbles around for his crossbow.
"Don't worry students.... I've got this covered..."
Now, where did I put that claw for pulling back the firing string. Oh yes..
The scholar with ill-practiced lack-of-ease, eventually gets the crossbow out and a bolt fumbled into place in it.
"Get back you horrible dogs."
Althera's missile badly hurts the targeted dog. He yelps in pain.
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I generally do image searches and then use snipping tool to copy them.
I put up up in a google drive to later reuse.
Over the last two or three years I've built up a bit of a library of them.
Which means almost half monsters I use now, I already have. Still a bit of work most scenarios for the more unusual creatures.
Meran's bow brings down one of the dogs.
Jarlaxle, to get to the uninjured dog, you'll have to move in a way that would trigger an AoO. Do you want to target the close injured dog, take the AoO to get to yellow, or something else like acrobatics?
Waiting on Emelia's action, too.
edit: It's possible Emilia may get rid of the injured dog, letting Jarlaxle move freely.
Emilia's splash of acid misses the dog. Jarlaxle swings at the closer dog,killing it, and then moves over to the far dog. Roran swings at and kills the remaining dog because it's distracted by Jarlaxle's presence on its other side.
"Thank you; I really couldn't afford to lose the cow to those mangy mutts. Ever since Tercio was elected mayor, the town guard has been more concerned with preparing his parades and doing favors for his friends
than with keeping the town safe from wild threats like wolves. Then he notices Thalia, and seems a bit embarrassed by what he just said about her father.
Thalia does not seem bothered by the criticism. Indeed, she seems to expect and agree with it. She sagely quoties from the works of her favorite political philosophers, remarking on how dangerous it can be for a leader to focus on politics over the needs of the people.
Soon after the fight, a man emerges from the southeastern building and advertises that the shop sells healing potions. He even half-jokes that
the shop gets more business when trouble’s nearby. Just as he finishes his joke, he sees Thalia and loses what he was saying for just a second. He smoothly picks up where he was, trying to hide the slip up.
You enter the shop. This 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.
When you enter, the man who encouraged you to come runs quickly to the door into the back room and knocks. Almost immediately a middle-aged half elf woman with platinum blonde hair, gray-green apothecary's robes, and huge goggles comes into the front room. "Welcome to my shop. What remedy or tonic can I sell you today?"
Koriana answers you, "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. Would you join me for tea while we talk? Or I can give you a free sample of pesh, if any of you indulge occasionally. Then we can sit down and talk about what has happened, and how we can all get our needs met."
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Does she really want to negotiate in good faith? Or is she trying to lure us into conversation and then poison us? wonders the scholar.
"I also hope we can settle this amicably. Perhaps if you start by telling us what it is you are trying to achieve, we may be able to find a way to do that which is mutually acceptable." suggest the scholar.
He sniffs delightedly at the offered tea, but holds off drinking it for the moment.
There was the rebel Taldane noble Dramask who when cornered, offered to toast his vanquishers victory. The noble born all joined him, and died a very agonising death - according to 'History of Rebellion in provincial Taldane, volume XIII'
Koriana brings over tea to those who will drink it. "We all have our goals. The elder Andares did not hire you to investigate, so what is a band of Pathfinders hoping to acquire here?"
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Jarlaxle nods thoughtfully.
"Well, we know the elder Andares is quite influential; the Society is interested in building support for its forays into the Worldwound, both in terms of funding, and manpower. It was hoped that by finding his daughter, we would gain enough influence with him, that he would see fit to use his own influence on our behalf."
Koriana nods wisely. "If you surrender Thalia to me, Mayor Andares will make sure that the Pathfinder Society receives the funding it needs."
As soon as Koriana makes her proposal, Thalia interrupts. "I could provide the financial backing you need if my father, that unjust tyrant in sheep’s clothing, is convicted of corruption."
Koriana replies to Thalia, "Even if Tercio was convicted—not a guarantee- only he would be able to provide military aidthrough his consulship in addition to his family fortune, whereas Thalia can only aspire to secure the latter. 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 the Worldwound instead of toward it. In fact, convicting
Tercio could indirectly put the entire world at risk."
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Roran steps in at the mention trading a life for money. We will not surrender Thalia to be a prisoner just to receive funds from her corrupt father. To even mention something so heinous is putting you on the same level of dirt. Nay, beneath the dirt, worms.
Roran puts a defensive arm in front of Thalia, If dragging the corrupt into the light extends the fight with demons, so be it. I will not trade one evil for another.
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Althera considers carefully, beginning to realize what she must do even though it causes her great pain in realizing ther could be a fair amount of truth in the alchemist's words.
"I am afraid I must side with Roran. As much as I fear the incursion of the demon hordes, I love the ideals of my country too well. I cannot surrender Thalia to you, and I am afraid that the fight against corruption is one that I must support, as all true friends of Liberty do."
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The scholar strokes his chin for a moment.
"When you say "surrender Thalias to you" can you elaborate on that a little more? I am curious to know how you would use her. Are you allies?"
He rubs his chin as he thinks.
"Probably not, if so, presumably Thalia would not have identified your writing. Still, I hope there may be a way we can all get what we need here, but to do that, we need to know a bit more about your plan."
He pause.
"For example, securing the aid of the Andoran government and Eagle Knights prior to presenting whatever evidence there is of his corruption. Speaking of which... what evidence do you have of his maleficence?"
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Jarlaxle shrugs.
"To be honest, I don't really care for the ideals of the Andoran government, and am more than a little amused by the whole situation; I find political demagogues, regardless of their leanings, distasteful, regardless of whether they are Andoran, or Galtan."
He then looks thoughtful.
"In fact, corrupt politicians, if you have leverage, are much more reliable than fanatical so-called 'idealists' - at least you know the former will always act in their best interest."
Jarlaxle then sighs, ruefully.
"That said, I truly believe in the Society's mantra of 'Explore, Report, Cooperate'. If the rest of my fellow agents disagree with me, I won't come to blows with them over it."
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Emilia listens to the suggestions presented and ponders the options for sometime before speaking. "I would hear more about this corruption of which you speak, Miss Thalia before I make my choice. For now, I feel that the Worldwound and the demons contained therein present a much more disastrous opponent than some corrupt politician. He can be dealt with after we have driven the demons back. I feel I have a deeper understanding of the extraplanar than the rest of you. A horde of demons can kill more people in a single day than this man could do in his entire lifetime. I can more for all of Golarion than I do Andoran. That said, I hold my decision until Thalia can explain more."
Koriana chuckles a little at Khellek's question. "No, I am not an ally of that saucy girl. I am an ally of her father, the mayor. He recently started to teach her the way the world really works, and she threatened to report him for corruption! He asked me to make sure that she disappears. She will not be hurt. 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. We did not orchestrate her ultimate destination before she had time to ruin everything, so this kidnapping is merely a temporary solution. 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."
Thalia answers the implied questions, "I have household records, logs, and journals hidden somewhere safe to prove what my father and his elitist cronies are doing. They are a few formerly noble families that are now in positions of power, and are undermining the revolution. Would you truly wish a man who can order his own daughter kidnapped to remain in political power?"
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The scholar sits and reaches for a cup of tea, before stopping himself.
"Maybe after our negotiations"
He looks around to the rest of the team, who seem keener on releasing the girl.
"I do have a concern Thuvia. While your father has ensured your well being in his, perhaps underhand dealing... I would worry that his political allies may be less focused on your safety and long term happiness. If you were to disclose his actions publicly and immediately then surely they would take steps to remove you from the situation in a more... permanent fashion."
He sighs a little. "I think for your own well being we may be better off seeing you clear of Andor..."
Of course what you do once you have left the country is up to you
"I don't see how the Society can hope to gain what it wants from this sorry situation. Surely her father is not likely to reward the Society for finding the daughter he has gone to some lengths to 'vanish', but he can't exactly reward us for not finding her either."
He turns to Thuvia "What if you left, and we politely suggested to your father that he change his ways - for example putting his efforts into the crusade, rather than enriching his pockets? You could even join the Society. We have a whole load of folk interested in promoting the cause of freedom, through knowledge. "
Quietly he adds "I'd love to get hold of that copy of the letters if you have finished with it.."
To the alchemist he adds "I don't suppose you are any good with locks. There is a box we found and were unable to open..."
Thalia is sounding rather frustrated with Khellek "You do not need my father to reward you. As I said, when he is convicted of corruption, I will inherit his wealth, and I can make sure that you get the funding you need. I cannot willingly leave the country and abandon its ideals. I cannot just let someone who misuses his authority like my father stay in power. On the way here, you saw the feral animals attack that farmer and his cow. Because my father is not doing his job, things like that are frequent around here. In terms of my father's allies, I am willing to take that risk. I think they are wise enough to know that if anything happens to me, they are more likely to be found out. If my life is lost in the pursuit of our Andoran ideals, it will not be lost in vain."
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Of course it would be lost in vain, you silly girl thinks the scholar. Though he tries not to let it show.
"And how will you ensure we get the military support we need as well as the financial support? From what I see, you can't."
He turns to his companions. "You are people of honour, I see that. The question must be put though, whether the greater good of the world, secured through the military aid of The Father, is more important than the freedom of The Daughter. An excellent question for a class on situational ethics and morality. If you will wish one way, I will not stand against you."
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So...what you are saying is that you would turn this girl to slavery or for all we know executed to save a corrupt politician who can give us gold and military aid. Roran not liking the situation start to back up towards the door, grabbing Thalia wrist. We could find both else where and it may not be at the price that it is being asked.
Let me pose this question, would you say the same if it was a relative of yours? Someone you care for
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Emilia gives Thalia a patient look. "No, I would rather not leave such a man in power, but this is a situation that comes down to the greater good. I am sorry that your father is such a horrible person, but the Worldwound must be contained. The Eagle Knights could greatly aid this venture and I am in favor of that. It is nothing against you, dear, but I would sacrifice any one person to save the world." She looks at her companions. "We are Pathfinders first and we have a mission to garner the aid of the Eagle Knights, not to fulfill our own self-serving agendas, let us not forget that. It would not be the first time, nor the last time that the Society has had to ally temporarily with someone like this. I say we secure the aid we need. Then we can deal with this foul man and his allies."
She notices Roran's movement. "Roran, do not be a fool. Stop this rash behavior and listen to this discussion."
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Looking at Emilia,Was it also our mission to bring the corrupt to light, not to bed with it. I have listened, if you are willing to side with this, I can not wait to see how you bend to the will of demons far more powerful.
I will not be apart of this. You all choose to kiss a snake, and be surprised when you get bitten. He reaches down and kisses the knuckles of Thalia.
I am sorry dear, I appear to be out numbered here and will not draw a blade on allies in the society. For this I will take my leave so my name will not be drug into this.
With that he let goes of Thalia hand and walk out the door, head down.
"Do you really think a corrupt man like my father can be trusted to follow through on a bargain made by one of his associates out of desperation? And if it's Eagle Knights you want help from, you should talk to my relative, Sander Bryton. My father doesn't trust him because he's too honorable." Thalia is starting to sound desperate, now.
Koriana is starting to smirk.
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Emilia pauses. "So we do not necessarily need the backing of your father then, but rather this Sander Bryton?" This piques Emilia's interest. "I do not trust anyone, especially a corrupt politician, but I can handle him better than a horde of demons. That said, perhaps we should go speak with this Sander and convince him instead. Then we have no need of your father and his ilk."
Thalia seems to grasp desperately at Emilia's words. "Yes, cousin Sander is one of the consuls. In my gathering of evidence against my father, I found nothing against Sander beyond occasionally not looking too hard at what others do. I can provide the money you need, and Cousin Sander could provide military aid better than my father."
Thalia grips Roran's hand, trying to keep the feeling of safety she gets from him a little longer.
Koriana is starting to frown.
"Why do you keep listening to that brat? Give her to me, or we will take her by force." Koriana's patience seems gone.