Seeing the sharp turn "Oh sweet Desna" But then calls to his fellow halflings "Keep holding tight! It's gonna get bumpy!"
Sure hope Sapphire is as good a driver of carriages as she appears to be
Seeing the bend she has the carriage on 2 wheels as she takes it as fast as she can.
"Here we go"
With Sapphire at the reins, the horses snort and charge like nightmares unleashed upon the dusty streets of Oregent. They power the carriage into the sharp turn, and indeed the right-hand wheels lift off the ground during the wild maneuver. Inside, the halflings heave their combined weight in the opposite direction to counterbalance the tilt.
With a loud clatter, the wheels return to the ground. The carriage now rattles northward, into the Lodges. You've maintained your lead whilst keeping the vehicle on the road. However, the two horsemen remain in pursuit, and from here the streets become narrower and more twisting.
As the carriage careens around the bend, Sweet Pea turns her attention to the two pursuers. "You guys are way too persistent!"
She spreads her arms wide, and a swirling rushing cloud of leaves builds up around her, spinning faster and faster. With a gesture, she sends the projectiles toward the the nearest horseman, the blast travelling farther and faster than it ever has before.
Sweet Pea's hail of razor-sharp leaves proves to be superbly effective, not only leaving the horseman with deep lacerations but also cutting the straps on his saddle and stirrups. It takes all his riding skill to remain atop his mount, but the effort costs him momentum - especially as he pulls hard on the reins to avoid carts and rubbish lining the streets. Nevertheless, the severe wounds he suffers diminishes his determination to maintain his pursuit.
The leader of the horsemen, though, remains dogged in his pursuit. He leans forward and urges his steed ever faster, heedless of anything or anyone that might be caught in his path.
Meanwhile, the carriage's wheels clip a cart sitting too close to the road, upending it and leaving the owner loudly lamenting as his cabbages spill across the cobbles.
Randu says "Not to deny you the pleasure, but I need to try something."Randu tries to cast again
Working and invoking a hold person on the lead horseman
The wagon hits a deep divot in the cobbled street, and the sudden jarring jump foils Randu's attempt to weave his magic - also eliciting a number of yelps from the carriage's other occupants.
As the rider urges his horse on to close the distance, he draws a javelin from a sheaf alongside his saddle. He aims for the catfolk atop the carriage, a very distinct target indeed, and makes his throw once he closes within 30 feet of the carriage. However, although he hurls the missile with all his strength and otherwise keen accuracy, the skilled monk catches the javelin before it can strike him or any of his allies.
Incensed by this momentary defeat, he spurs his horse on ever faster to close the last of the distance.
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He cracked his neck and grinned moving as quick as he could and reaching the edge of the carraige he paused licking his lips and then judging... he leapt foot first towards the rider.
"Kiyaa!"
His foot crackled with lightning as he struck trying to kick the rider off his horse.
There is a burst like a small thunderclap when Rrruh's kick lands upon the rider's chest. His steel cuirass can only do so much against the force of the monk's kick, and it only serves to better conduct the elemental energy it delivers. The impact sends him sliding off the horse along with his severed saddle, and he tumbles painfully to the cobbles.
Despite the difficulty of mounting the unsaddled horse and riding bareback, Rrruh manages to accomplish the feat. He now rides alongside the carriage.
The last of your pursuers has been dealt with. You can hear sounds rising up from the cramped city blocks behind you suggesting that the other riders, once fooled by Randu's illusion, have corrected their mistake and followed you into the city. Unfortunately, the magical ruse has bought you too much of a lead, and they can't possibly catch you before you reach the army base.
You spend another tense minute rattling down the twisting city streets until the leaning tenements and warehouses part like a curtain, revealing the watchposts of the base ahead. The soldiers on watch duty notice your fast, wild approach. They hustle to rally their fellows, unsure what tidings this unexpected arrival brings.
"Rrruh, that was amazing!" Randu says and means it! He's never seen such a thing!
You spend another tense minute rattling down the twisting city streets until the leaning tenements and warehouses part like a curtain, revealing the watchposts of the base ahead. The soldiers on watch duty notice your fast, wild approach. They hustle to rally their fellows, unsure what tidings this unexpected arrival brings.
Randu calls out to the Soldier, "Falcon's Eye, friends! We've rescued those those what were about to be enslaved!"
Though it does little to alleviate their confusion, Randu's hail manages to put the soldiers a little more at ease. Though the arrival of the carriage, driven by Sapphire and ridden by a halfling and green child, and a catfolk on horseback is a farfetched sight, the soldiers are fairly certain that you are not a threat.
Finally, one of the enlisted officers present recognizes the party and sends for Captain Windstill at once.
Though secretly beaming under Randu's praise he does his best to remain stoic on the back of the horse. Even better was the fact they were safe with the soldiers... and the halflings were safe too. He slid from the horse and moved to stand near the gate just in case the other riders were unwise enough to get too close.
Sapphire stops and jumps off walking to the troops.
She takes out her letters of office and hands them to the enlisted officer.
"I need to speak with your commander, also we have some enslaved captives here we have released, who need to be seen by a cleric. Outside we also have some gentlemen who would like their slaves back, I suggest you arrest them should they show up."
Randu helps the halflings out "Easy, easy, we're among friends now, or at least folks we can trust. You okay? how's your leg?" The witch has done his share of healing and looks them over now that it's safer to do so. But as Sapphire mentions getting a cleric, he relaxes even more and shoots her a grateful look.
"And if any doubt our word on it, you've got a whole group of rescued witnesses."
Watching nearly a dozen halflings pour out of a single carriage leaves the assembled soldiers even more bewildered, as they suddenly wonder whether they're watching some manner of sideshow performance. Nevertheless, the mention of "slaves" evokes a grim determination from the Andoren soldiers.
Captain Windstill arrives just in time to accept Sapphire's proffered papers.
"Hold those thieves and vandals!" calls a hoarse voice from the streets to the east.
A new disturbance jostles the soldiers as the Consortium horsemen gallop forth, a little worse for wear after what the party has put them through. They array themselves in a line, the party and purloined carriage caught in the no man's land between them and the soldiers.
"They have raided and plundered the home of the right, honorable Garland Rakesclaw! Turn them over at once!"
"Belay that!" Captain Windstill shouts to his soldiers as he finishes skimming Sapphire's documents. "Keep those riders at bay!"
With well-drilled discipline, the soldiers assume defense postures, spears at the ready. The gesture shakes the horsemen, whose rattled nerves look on the verge of breaking there and then. A detachment of the soldiers draw swords and circle around the riders, cutting off their escape.
"Miss Night," the captain begins, "I would ask you and your companions to clearly explain to me what readily appears to be a matter of grave importance."
She nods
"As my papers show, I am a special investigator for the ruling council. I am tasked with investigating suspected local organized criminal gangs and their subversive links to neighboring powers. The individuals with me, the ones not being recently rescued, slaves.
Have been deputized by me after alerting me to the presence of said salves at one right, honorable Garland Rakesclaw estate. They informed me of the slaves being in Rakesclaw cellar after gaining employment there. Seeing immediate danger risk to life. Article 24 subsection 3 dash 7 of the penal code, grants me the right as a lawful representative of the ruling council. To and I quote "Take means as should be fit to collect and present to the Council evidence of criminal activities deemed to be seditious, greaves or treasonous. I believe keeping slaves in one's basement accounts for two of those. Once slavery was identified, I and my deputies removed the subjects of said salary and with hast and what was to hand brought them here to safety, freedom, and protection of the state. Now I would like the halflings looked after and statements taken from them, also send a message to the local magistrate she is aware I am here and my mission Captin. Now I have to go and arrest these riders."
She stops there and taking out her silver Bague of office, holds it up, and walks to confront the riders.
"For the offense of obstructing justice, endangering the lives of the public, suspected involvement and organized crime, suspected involvement acts of slavery, I am placing you all under arrest. You have the right to appear before a justice of the peace and plead your case. You will have the right to legal counsel at such time. Be aware that you will be held until such time."
She then locks eyes with each and every one of the riders, she shows no fear just a grim look of a police officer doing her duty. Something she has done many times before.
"Refusal to comply with this lawful command may result in physical or mental Damage.. your choice, NOW SURRENDER BY ORDER OF THE RULING COUNCIL!!"
She takes out her evil-looking sidearm and waits to see what they do.
When Sapphire declares that the halflings brought to the base were not just rescued slaves but that they had been freed from Rakesclaw's manor, so close to the city, a heady blend of shock and anger plays across the faces of the soldiers present. For his part, Captain Windstill sets his face as grimly as a hangman.
All the while, the Consortium riders suddenly wonder whom they fear more: the entire army garrison arrayed before them or Sapphire Night.
"Detective Night, I believe you can stand down," Captain Windstill announces. "As far as I'm concerned, by delivering these men to us, you have more than done your duty. We will take them into custody and ensure they do not go anywhere until the magistrate can arrange their trial. In the meantime, I will send a detachment to pay a visit to Mister Rakesclaw and see that he plays his due part in the proceedings."
The captain's tone makes it abundantly clear that he looks forward to seeing the Consortium director face justice.
The riders offer no resistance as they are arrested. They are far too frightened of Sapphire's weapon, even if they don't fully comprehend what it may be.
Seeing the rider's resolve crumble, She turns abruptly, affixing her bague to her chest pocket and holstering her weapon. As she walks to the Captain she says.
"Rrruh, Sweetpea, Randu, make ready to go with the troops"
Then at the Captin
"Thank you, Captain, may I suggest you do that at once and allow a few of my fellows to go with your troops to point out the places where the slavery was taking place. I have no doubt the Consortium director will be trying to hide his tracks or say this was all a miss understanding. Also, would it be allowed for me to stay here, I need to take statements from the freed halflings, once a cleric has seen to them."
She also talks in private the Captin about Cheliax influences within the local criminal gangs.
Randu adds to what's already said, confirming to the captain "Happy to help bring these bastards to justice, that's for certain." He looks to the halflings, "Andoren is for halflings too. Don't let those Consortium bastards ever try to lie to you about otherwise. You all be brave, and tell the folks here the truth in as much detail as you can and we'll see Rakesclaw and his 'friends' shackled instead, as the criminals they are."
And he'll be happy to assist the army folks clear up that manorhouse
Owing to the fact that the party has already brought the menace known as the Axeman of Oregent to justice, the captain has more soldiers to spare. Of course, given the severity of this situation, he would have reassigned soldiers for this priority operation, regardless.
The "borrowed" carriage is taken into evidence, but Rrruh is permitted to keep his similarly "borrowed" horse. The base only has a handful of horses of its own, mostly used for running messages or conducting reconnaissance around the city. Nevertheless, every last one is brought out from the stables to ensure a rapid response to Rakesclaw's manor. One of these horses is offered to Sapphire, with the assumption that the party's smaller members would ride along with her or Rrruh.
You make haste from the city alongside the squad of army horsemen. Though you have the luxury of not being chased, time remains of the essence. Less than an hour has passed since you first fled the manor when you make your return.
The first difference is how much more sedate the place appears. None of the horses and carriages from before remain, and there are no visible patrols in the gardens or carriageway.
"The rats have already begun to flee," the captain muses, having led this important mission himself.
She rides with the others, when they get to the manner she stops the Captain and speaks a moment.
"Yes good Captin, it does seem they have indeed fled, humm, But what is worrying is the fact it too quiet. It means he had in place planes for just this kind of eventuality. He is in clean-up mode, which means the halfling may be the only evidence we have, so they are now in great danger. Right then lets be at this"
She moves on to the main gaite.
"Rrruh, Sweetpee head round the back and see if they a feeling from there. Keep out of sight, Randu with me"
At the gate
"By warrant of the Great Counsel I demand entry"
"Mmph could throw a please in there," He grumbles but does move by her side
She looks at him for a moment as if lost by his words then realization hits her, she then says
"Please Randu, Will be so kind as to come with me into the house"
"Mmph" the halfling searches for sarcasm, and to his surprise, finds none. "Gladly, and thank you" and he moves along with her into the house
No response is forthcoming when Sapphire calls at the manor door, with or without niceties. The door is locked, but whether by Sapphire's devices or the raw power of your army escorts, this is but a temporary barrier.
Once inside, you find that the manor, which only an hour hence was loud with the debates and merrymaking of the corrupt Consortium directors, is still and quiet. Not a single soul remains inside, not even the dwarven kitchen maid, Mathilda.
Around the back, Sweet Pea and Rrruh find the gardens much as they were left, sans the horses and carriages. The cellar doors at the back of the house sit thrown open, daring anyone to revisit the dungeon formerly hidden below.
Captain Windstill and his soldiers scour the manor for any evidence they can find. As this investigation progresses, you are soon joined by another, larger detachment of soldiers from the base who followed on foot. They are accompanied by a woman on horseback, bedecked in a dress uniform. A golden holy symbol hangs prominently from her neck.
The captain introduces her as Magistrate Elsbet Regere, a former commander of the Golden Eagles of the Andoren army, a paladin of Iomedae, and his superior.
"We'll be playing catch up," she declares. "hoping that, in their haste, they've left behind anything particularly incriminating or actionable. We've never had an opportunity like this before, Captain. We may finally have them."
She took out her clean gloves and started a room-by-room search. Taking notes and checking every hidyhole.
The halfling focuses on the kitchen, though he does tell his owl, "Help me out, Sage."
While Sage lends his own senses, the halfing tries to figure out what food was taken, how long it would preserve, other clues.
Then he goes out to the stables, clues about the horses. Those are gone, but one never knows when an animal might leave a clue as to how far it can go or the like. Or for that matter, perhaps one of the 'ladies' that came to this event had a flower in her hair that's fallen, a flower that might speak of her home garden?
This was not the sort of thing he was accustomed to, but with a glance at SweetPea he motioned that he was going back down into the cellar. Cautiously he made his way down step by step keeping his eyes peeled for anything that looked out of place or strange.
His private office shows clear signs that he cleared out certain items before departing. Several ledgers and documents have been left out, but you suspect these are “cooked books” strategically left behind to make his business dealings seem more legitimate. A floor panel has been moved from beneath his desk, revealing a once hidden safe. The safe presently sits closed, but you suspect that Rakesclaw has already emptied it. You also suspect it may bear some manner of trap left for would-be investigators.
In his bedroom, there are signs that Rakesclaw gathered some personal effects for his sudden flight from the law. However, you notice something unusual about a massive armoire against one of the walls. Opening the doors and pushing aside the hanging clothes within, you discover a cleverly disguised false panel at the back of the armoire. Removing it, you find a secret hatch that you suspect leads to a hidden room or vault. However, you also recognize the clear signs of a trap tied to this hatch - one designed to fill the bedroom with electricity should it be tampered with.
In the kitchen, you discover a common hiding spot used by cooks - tucked behind the flour - where Mathilda kept an unfinished letter addressed to her brother's family in the Five Kings Mountains. Since you are fluent in Dwarven, you are able to read the letter.
The dwarven cook mentions that "men from Cheliax" would often arrive to do business with Master Rakesclaw in his private office. Mathilda also notes how this soon presaged a sudden need to hire new servants, particularly halflings. She chalks this up to Master Rakesclaw's desire to "provide job opportunities for the beleaguered small folk." This could provide further corroboration that Rakesclaw's connection with slaving operations was not merely a onetime affair.
Mathilda also mentions that Master Rakesclaw would take business trips to Piren's Bluff. The army may be interested in investigating this lead.
Sage taps at the kitchen window to get your attention. He leads you to a flowerbed beside the carriage drive. A thin ledger has fallen amongst the briars, perhaps dropped by Rakesclaw or one of his henchmen during their flight.
Randu's eyes scan over the letter and grows angry wondering how many times halflings were seized by Rakesclaw.
Then, the ledger!
"Thank you, Sage" He'll try to get to it, preferably without getting gutted by a briar.
Sapphire shows the troops the safe in the office buy says wait for a locksmith as it's trapped. Then in the bedroom, she orders everyone out while she works on the trap blocking the way to the secret room she has found. Taking out her tools she starts to work.
She will also use
Jury-Rig(Ex)
Beginning at 2nd level, a scavenger can sacrifice one of his gadgets to repair or enhance an adjacent mechanical device, such as a lock, trap, or vehicle. Doing so either repairs 1d6 points of damage per extract level of the gadget sacrificed or applies a bonus or penalty to one specific skill check involved in using the device. The scavenger could, for example, sacrifice a gadget to impose a penalty on all Disable Device checks to disarm a trap, add a bonus on all Disable Device checks to open a lock, or add a bonus on all Profession (driver) checks to drive a carriage.
This modifier is equal to twice the extract level of the gadget sacrificed, and lasts for 10 minutes per class level.
Randu leaves Sage in wide-eyed amazement as he reaches into the thorny rosebush and withdraws the ledger as easily as removing a cookie from a jar. Inside, he finds columns detailing various numbers, name, and locations. He quickly recognizes this an accounting record, documenting shipments made to Piren's Bluff and other destinations.
Once turned over to Magistrate Regere, she confirms the ledger's importance: it proves that Rakesclaw was redirecting Consortium lumber shipments, including extremely valuable darkwood, towards Andoran's western border.
"There is only one reason for them to do this," she declares, a rising excitement in her voice. "They were funneling darkwood to Cheliax. This is not only a violation of their contract with the Andoren government, but it represents outright treason."
...
Meanwhile, inside Rakesclaw's bed chambers, Sapphire begins to make headway on disabling the dangerous mechanism, but she stops herself just in time to avoid triggering a failsafe.
Well, that was close but she had an idea,
Going to the outside of the building she ripped off the copper lighting strip from the wall. Feeding it to the window she connects it to the device means to Electicute anyone in the room. The main being to earth it.
She then triggers the trap to discharge it safely.
She smiled as her plan worked and checked for another backup traps.
"There is only one reason for them to do this," she declares, a rising excitement in her voice. "They were funneling darkwood to Cheliax. This is not only a violation of their contract with the Andoren government, but it represents outright treason."
"To me, any Andoran who would put another innocent being in chains is a traitor to the nation and should be hung, but I'm a bitter little fellow and you're right. Helping Chelliax makes it worse. Thank you, Magistrate."
Finding no additional traps, Sapphire opens the hatch hidden behind the false backing of the armoire and finds that it, indeed, leads to a secret room. Her engineering knowledge tells her that the walls are reinforced, making it more secure than the rest of the manor. When she sees the contents, she understands why.
The hidden room serves double duty, acting as both safe room and treasure vault for Director Rakesclaw. The first item to catch her attention is a full-size standing mirror on the opposite side of the ten-foot-square room. Its frame is made of pure gold, etched with imagery of leering, devilish faces.
However, before she can take stock of the other valuables stored within, Sapphire takes note of the plush, red carpet upon the floor just beneath the hatch. There is a barely perceptible bulge, suggesting a pressure plate built into the floor paneling. She suspects this is the trigger for some manner of pit or chute trap meant to entrap thieves.
She disarms the trap
And yes, Randu tries to make sure the Magistrate saw the chef's letter as well, "What do you know of Piren's Bluff?"
Rrruh was thourough in his search, but finally he brought all the things he found to the army commander. His normally cheerful demeanor soured when he heard that the Rakesclaw charector was dealing with Cheliax.
"I would not be surprised he deals with Cheliax... he would have to sell the halfings somewhere. I wonder if this Piren's Bluff is the proverbial trade route for his slave running. Is there any sort of paperwork we can have to investigate such an occurance Captain?"
In contrast to the electrical trap, this new mechanism proves to be child's play for Sapphire. She removes the carpet and slips a few bolts under the pressure plate to prevent it from triggering. This allows her to slip through the hatch into the secret vault and fully disable the trap without risk.
In addition to the strange mirror, Rakesclaw stores a king's ransom in valuables within this saferoom. Gems, works of art, and small coffers filled with coins - all bearing Chelish mintage. The obvious conclusion is that these represent the proceeds of Rakesclaw's dirty dealings with Cheliax. There are also a few magical baubles, including ones meant to enable a prolonged stay within this hidden refuge in case of a siege. The fact that Rakesclaw opted to instead abandon the manor entirely speaks to his desperation, realizing that the "game was up," as they say.
...
"Piren's Bluff..." the magistrate begins, thoughtfully. "It is a very small border settlement, barely even a village, nestled along the Aspodell Mountains - our border with Cheliax. We've long feared it could be a flashpoint for conflict between Andoran and the Infernal Empire, especially given resident Baron Vendikon's murky loyalties.
"Given how much of a concern corruption has also been regarding the hamlet, I'm not surprised that the Consortium may have been using it as a staging point to smuggle darkwood across the Aspodell Pass. If he was also using this route to transport slaves..." the magistrate cuts herself off with a shudder.
"I admire your zeal, good sir," she replies to Rrruh, "but we can handle the Piren's Bluff connection. I will notify General Traxxus and Commander Odeber straight away and advise that they deploy an interdiction force to stop any more shipments. If our investigation here turns up any leads, we may even identify enslaved citizens and freedmen who can be rescued and extracted.
"If I recall correctly, I've been told that you were on your way towards Almas on official business for the newly elected mayor of Falcon's Hollow. You've already done a great service to Andoran, so it would be unfair to delay you from your mission too much longer."
Sapphire makes a detailed list of all the elements and items in the room. Then she covers the mirror and shows the commanding officer and magistrate the contents of the room.
"It will be up to the courts and state to decide what happens to this hall of ill-gotten gains. As there are now clearly links to Cheliax and treason. Some items I will be commandeering for my team. But I will be giving you a chit for each so they can be reterned after this operation. Also, I suspect the mirror is a means of communication or travel to the hells or Cheliax. Please arrange for its shipment to General Traxxus's military intelligence unit. And keep it covered and strong boxed at all times."
The Smaller magical items she takes outside and places them on a table for identification and clear noting of the items.
"Aye, we must go onto Almas,"Randu ponders "I hope those we saved have good lives from here on out."
At Sapphire's relaying of what she found, the witch gives a low whistle "Investigator you've found a trove. I hope the government will pass some of the wealth to those freed so they can have a better chance at life for surely they were stripped of their wealth when they were taken and it seems only fair to me. "
"Whatever happens there, I think I'd like to talk to some of those wronged, and get family names, see who they might know or not know already in Andoran and if so make sure they can get contact with any relations, though I imagine the army will see to that for logic's sake. But yes, we must off to Almas, and then return to Falcon's Hollow" a glance to Rrruh with a knowing if understanding look "Once there, to Check on a certain lady and see if she arrived fine and dandy maybe?"
His ears laid back and his tail twitching at the thought of Rakesclaw avoiding the claws of justice it was obviously the lithe dark furred feline was a little annoyed about not being able to track the man down...until Randu mentioned Naulla all that agitation disapeared.
He couldnt help but smile and kinda tilted his head to the side his whiskers twitching.
"That is an excellent point Randu. I am curious to see if she is okay and well situated in the town. yes yes."
"The director seems to be a superstitious man," the magistrate muses as she oversees the inventorying of the confiscated evidence. "A matched set of 12 darkwood coffers, and the ones that don't contain Chelish platinum and gold - all in multiples of 12 - hold a dozen gems. Twelve sets of clothes fit for a noble, likely tailored in Egorian. A dozen pairs of footwear, each individual shoe or boot worth more than one of his worker's yearly wage."
This sparks a haunting thought. There were eleven halflings in the dungeon. Did Rakesclaw intend for Randu or the disguised Sweet Pea to be the twelfth so he could complete his next delivery?
.....
The aid of two spellcasters attached to the army base, dispatched to assist with the investigation at the manor, proves invaluable in identifying the magical items stashed in Rakesclaw's vault.
Unsurprisingly, the golden mirror proves to be magical, although the magistrate mandates that it be kept in place until a specialist can confirm whether it can be moved safely. Its magic is tied to communication, likely able to relay messages or even images to one or more linked mirrors. It is almost certain that Rakesclaw used this to contact his Chelish business partners.
Two magic items recovered from the safe room, made available for your requisition, are a headband and a ioun stone, which was likely kept in case Rakesclaw had to wait out a long siege in his safe room. He also kept a well-made dagger that, while not enchanted, is crafted of rare, expensive skymetal.
.....
Another item of interest found within the safe room is a fine writing desk made from rare, imported wood from an unidentified species of tree. When the magistrate reads the documents recovered from its drawers and cubbies, her face blanches and hardens like steel.
"Bring me ink and paper! And prepare our fastest horses!"
Magistrate Regere calls you into a private council with Captain Windstill.
"If only the wind would lend me its speed, I would immediately rally every last Eagle Knight in Andoran myself," she declares grimly. "Rakesclaw's villainy and the Consortium's complicity runs deep, into the Hells themselves."
She shares with you the documents' contents and the two terrible schemes they lay out.
Firstly, Rakesclaw had begun to look into expanding or even outright moving the Consortium's operations to the Mwangi Expanse. Not only would this provide access to new types of exceedingly rare, exceedingly valuable wood, but it would enable the Consortium to do business with nations other than Andoran - including forbidden Cheliax and Katapesh. Rakesclaw also envisioned turning the native Mwangi populations into an enslaved workforce to cut labor costs.
Secondly, Rakesclaw had been in communication with Baron Vendikon of Piren's Bluff and members of House Thrune. Using Consortium funds, he intended to bankroll groups of partisans to destabilize Andoran from within in advance of a Chelish invasion. In return, House Thrune promised the Consortium complete freedom to do business as they pleased under their new regime, as well as the aid of their infernal allies to exterminate the Darkmoon fey court.
Sapphire takes looks at the headband.
"It would best suit us if I use this for the mission, any objections?"
When the territories plans are uncovered Sapphire nods
"The Council suspected something was going on here, but this, this runs much deeper. Partisans to destabilize Andoran, deep treachery. Magistrate, I will entrust local matters to you here. But you are right I will do as you suggest and carry on the hunt with my fellows. This has been a very good day's work. Know this I will be sending a report back to the capital tonight, your excellent work and those of the troops here will be in that report."
Then to her fellows.
"If you would be happy to have me with you, I would like to accompany you"
"It would best suit us if I use this for the mission, any objections?"
"Well, in truth, while my magic is not typical wizardry, such a band would make my spells more potent," the halfling seems almost embarrassed "But I won't thumb wrestle you for it or anything if you have your heart set on it."
"If you would be happy to have me with you, I would like to accompany you"
At this, whether she wants to keep the headband or not, Randu smiles, "After you helped rescue halflings from slavery? I'm honored to know you even if I don't understand your full nature, and I'm happy you're offering to stick with us." A look at Sweetpea and Rrruh to see if they agree
While the magistrate cannot allow any of the coins or jewels recovered from the safe room to "go missing," there are a few other confiscated items that are made available for the party's use - most notably, the "borrowed" carriage and Rrruh's horse, which seems to have already taken a shine to his new catfolk rider.
"I wish to do what I can to expedite your mission," Magistrate Regere explains. "Especially since Captain Windstill will not be able to spare as many of his soldiers as he anticipated to provide an escort on your way to Almas. In light of these chilling developments, we will need as many men and women as possible to clamp down on the Consortium now that their board is on the run."