Open for dotting
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 hopethat 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 oncedes 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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When the assembled Pathfinders leave the room, some of them see a familiar sight: A large, metal automaton forged to resemble an armor-clad warrior stands motionless behind a seedy-looking half-orc, his wrists bound in thick chains. Upon seeing the group, the robot's head swivels as an earthy baritone voice, full of artificial volume, resonates out from somewhere deep within its chest.
"PATHFINDER EXPEDITION, PRISONER 2048 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO YOUR GROUP, PENDING REHABILITATION AND RESTITUTION FOR CRIMES AGAINST ORDER. HIS COMPLIANCE WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION'S GOALS AND MISSION OBJECTIVES IS MANDATORY." And with that, it reaches around and unlocks the half-orc's shackles.
Rubbing his wrists as he sneers at the automaton, the half-orc scoffs, "Whatever you say, you rusty bucket of bolts." Turning to the group, he says, "The name's Azuk, just in case you'd rather not call me by my number. This useless contraption is Warden, and despite all of our wishes, it'll be coming along, too. So, where are we going this time?"
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"Why, hello Azuk! I'm Ella! It's really nice to meet you! Are you that thing's prisoner? What did you do? I hope it wasn't something too awful! Me, I usually try to stay on the right side of the law, but I can totally understand why you might need to do something technically illegal to make things right..."
Ella goes on for several minutes, babbling about this or that. She seems to be a bit overly talkative.
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Warden doesn't respond to anyone else, focusing on his charge with a single-mindedness only a machine could muster.
Azuk, however, nods to Hania after she explains their situation. To Ella, he simply says, "I don't want to talk about it," then, glancing around at the hallowed walls of the cathedral around them as though they were listening in, he adds, "especially not here."
When he catches Huni's dismissive attitude, he finally smiles. "Where did you find this guy?" he asks of no one in particular. "At long last, I see the guild is starting to attract proper scumbags and miscreants. My kind of people!"
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Quietly contemplative of the information provided in the briefing, a Taldean man in his 30's with his sideburns formed into well maintained muttonchops and wearing a long gray coat finally stands and addresses the group, "Ah ha, another missing persons case! Undoubted my reputation proceeds me! For those of you unacquainted by my thus far illustrious career, allow me to introduce myself. I am Sebastian Mapplethorpe, formerly of Oppara of the former Empire of Taldor. Before my...unfortunate...exile, I served as a detective and investigator for several municipal and imperial entities due to my unfailing mastery of logic and deduction.”
"Fortunately, the Pathfinder Society had the foresight to make use of my prodigious skills and recruited me for the organization. Thus far I've been been assigned to teams responsible for uncovering Azlanti shrines, recovering information on missing VIPs, unearthing information critical to our efforts at the Worldwound, and stopping a misfit collection of ne'er-do-wells from causing havoc in Taldor. I look forward to working with each of you on this particular assignment, and I am confident of our success."
You know
Tercio Andares is mayor of Sauerton, one of the consuls who administer Andoran’s military, and owner of the extremely successful Sauerton Red winery.
Andares has generally remained popular in Sauerton despite the town suffering from a rash of attacks by wild beasts from the Verduran Forest in recent years, as his winery employs much of the town directly or indirectly, and it is rare for any public figure to suggest Andares might be responsible for any problems.
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.
The local captain of the guard Merton Demrick has publicly petitioned for more funds to hire additional guards, claiming the current numbers are too few, but he has not received enough support from Mayor Andares or the townspeople to implement the change.
A local vineyard’s villa was burned down in a then-famous fire about the time of the People’s Revolt by a spiteful noble belonging to the Sauer family. It seems likely to fit the description given by Wystorn Telfyr.
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"Fortunately, I'm quite familiar with the area. Please allow me to relate what details might be relevant to this case." Sebastian explains, then reveals all the information he remembers.
Afterwards, he adds, "After making introductions and assurances to Mayor Andares, I would suggest we investigate the ruined villa near the vineyard first as a precursor to our rescue operations."
Your voyage up the Andoshen River is swift, and they 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 yous navigate Sauerton, a halfling wearing light armor and a rain-spattered helmet hails you, "Hello! I'm Captain Merton Demrick of the nation of Andoran, what business do you have in our fine city?"
"Well of course! Follow me then everyone." The halflings says. Then he leads you through town cheerfully pointing out different features of the town and remarking how nice it will be to get inside and out of the weather.
He leads you through town to a very nice mansion. He then knocks on the door and waits. After a few moments a thin, hook-nosed woman with graying brown hair held in a tight bun answers. "Yes?"
"Oh pathfinders you say? Hmm..." The woman say, a thoughtful looks passing over her face. "The master is currently in a meeting and cant be disturbed until it is complete. You are welcome to wait however." She says leading you into a parlor. Another servant appears with refreshments at a wave of the woman's hand.
After a while of waiting she says, "You know I have given this terrible matter much thought myself. I think that either, she might claim that Kyonin elves have crossed the border and abducted Thalia to sacrifice to their forest gods, or that a Chelish spy stole her away and has hidden her body in one of the wine casks."
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"Those are some interesting theories, madam. What makes you believe the elves might have kidnapped her?" The investigator asks, before remembering his manners, "I've completely forgotten to give you a full introduction! My name is Sebastian Mapplethorpe, formerly of Oppara, lately of Absalom. Might I inquire who you are and your relationship to the family?"
"My name is Dorabeth, I'm the head servant here." She says proudly.
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"Again, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. What can you tell us about the circumstances surrounding Ms. Andares abduction? Was anyone in charge of observing her or guarding her during the celebration? Were there any changes in the household before her disappearance, such as new persons working in or around the home? Any threats to the Consul? What makes you think that elves or a Chelish agent might be involved?"
"I'm not sure who was with her last, but she was always a very independent girl. No same staff as always, but no one here would ever hurt her. No threats have been made. That's what has us worried." She says to Sebastian. She turns to Ella saying, "I do mind. That's a very rude thing to ask young lady."
"You would have to ask her father about things like that." She says to Huni.
Tercio Andares—a tall Taldan man who has aged gracefully with curly, graying black hair—opens the drawing room door for Sander Bryton, 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 upon noticing you, greets the captain of the guard, and with a hint of quickly suppressed exasperation asks the visitors to introduce themselves.
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Sebastian stands up as Andares enters the room and bows to him, "Thank you for meeting with us Consul. My name is Sebastian Mapplethorpe and I represent the Pathfinder Society. My compatriots are Mr. Azuk with his, uh, companion Warden, Ms. Ella, Ms. Hania, and Mr. Huni. We've come to offer our assistance in locating and rescuing your daughter. If we may speak to you privately about it, I believe we have several leads."