Dot then erase your post.
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.”
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A tanned, slender woman with hair the color of fire stands in the room with the others. Her blue silk blouse and pleated skirt accentuate the color of her hair, which seems to move gently despite the lack of any breeze. She wears a small belt pouch on one hip, but no weapons or armor can be seen.
"Hmmm. Sounds like fun! Question though, when you say 'funding'... Do you have a number in mind?"
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A man of black skin, not merely an individual of color but a man the black of obsidian, onyx, and jet stands next to a gray wolf. He is heavily armored, though it looks light on him. A weapon even larger than himself extends past his shoulders. "Rescue foolish girl. Understand." He ensures that he has enough rations prepared both for himself and his companion for the journey.
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A tall thin blue skinned humanoid has been listening quietly, leaning against one wall. Dressed in plain travelling clothes, and without armour or weapons. Can you tell us any more about this Andares family and the political situation in Sauerton? Is there anyone we should be careful around, any touchy subjects or issues we should avoid so as not to offend the locals? Do we have any idea who might have kidnapped the girl, do the Andares have enemies?
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"Present ourselves to one Tercio Andares. Win his trust. Track down his child. Rescue her and deal with the kidnappers. Also keep an eye out for "short-sighted corruption" a strikingly beautiful woman with long platinum blonde hair states entering the room. She doesn't seem apologetic despite being late to the meeting. On the contrary she appears to give off an aura of utter confidence verging on arrogance.
"I guess he means long-sighted corruption is fine then"
Diplomacy(gather information) Kn.Local
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.
A few unpopular individuals around Sauerton say that the Andares family is rotten, and that anyone who makes trouble for Tercio or his kin is quickly and quietly encouraged to leave town.
Kn.Geography or Local
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.
Venture Captain Brackett continues answering the party’s questions.
”Vivianna Talwin is the only major political rival Andares has to our knowledge. He has no obvious bad blood in the business of cheap wine.”
”Tercio and Thalia Andares are each the other’s only close living relatives in the area, so far as we are aware.”
”Mr. Andares has publicly stated that he has not received any official demands yet.”
”When I heard reports from the north, it seemed as though the
authorities were stumped.”
The Venture Captain looks around for any more questions.
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"Seems like wine from Suerton is infamously bad. And guess who owns most of the wineyards? None other than the esteemed mayor. Who, by the way, comes from and esteemed line of former nobles who renounced their titles when it became politically inconvenient to hold them but kept the power in their town anyway... And another thing: if I recall correctly... and I do... captain Merton Demrick has been trying to get the funds to recruit more guards for some tiome now only to be denied time and again by the mayor and the townspeople. I think he might be willing to talk with us about what's really going on in the fine town of Suerton, besides kidnappings and the production of cheap wine" Zhatara considers showing off some of her considerable knowledge.
"Given this information we should keep an eye on the brave mayor as well. The kidnapping could be a rouse or something else entirely. Note that I'm not saying mayor Andares is guilty of anything but only that we should take anything he says with a grain of salt"
Before the group departs the venture captain adds, ”Use your best judgement on funding. You are all Pathfinders and I will trust that!”. The group departs after hearing out the venture captain.
Your voyage up the Andoshen River is swift, 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 navigate Sauerton, a halfling wearing light armor and a rain-spattered helmet hails you, ”I am Captain Merton Demrick of the nation of Andoran. What is your business in the city?”
Guards? Guards will keep it idyllic! I will volunteer to act as your guide for a short while. You’ll want to see Council Tercio Andares.”The Captain cheerfully escorts you around, pointing out different features of the town. ”Sure will be nice to get inside and out of the weather.”
As your last stop the Captain drops you off at the Andares Manor.
The Captain, without answering more question, leads you to the front door.
The Andares mansion stands at the edge of a beautiful green and has a facade dominated by fine marble pillars.
The manor is tall and as imposing inside and out. The ground floor has a parlor, drawing room, grand dining room, water closet, and kitchen, and the upper level has half a dozen bedrooms, half of which are unused.
You identify the architecture as old Chelish but that the many columns are a recent, largely ornamental addition
The servant Dorabeth—a thin, hook-nosed woman with graying brown hair held in a tight bun—answers the door. She politely but firmly insists,”The master of the house is not to be disturbed; in fact, Tercio Andares is meeting with fellow consul Sander Bryton and wishes to prevent any member of the public from snooping around the kidnapping case.”
You convince Dorabeth that your visit is suitably important to demand Tercio’s time.
”OK! You’ve convinced me. This way please!” Dorabeth leads the way in. ”We shall wait here while Tercio and Bryton finish up.”
”I have spent the past week developing many ideas of just what happened to Thalia, and having Pathfinders visit is the perfect occasion to share some theories while we wait. Would you like to hear them?”
Without hesitation she begins. ”I think Kyonin elves have crossed the border and abducted Thalia to sacrifice to their forest gods , or, or, or that a Chelish spy stole her away and has hidden her body in one of the wine casks.!”She recounts her theories with wide eyes and a story telling excitement in her voice.
“I think it’s the way things are done around here!” Captain Demrick adds in.
”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.”Demrick exclaims.
”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.Although neither of the us suspect Tercio of foul play.”
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Jarat doesn't share his theories, specifically the ones about this guy probably masterminding the abduction of his own daughter to create sympathy and win a fairly stupid election. It was a particularly callous man that would do something like this, and if it turns out to be the case, this man will come down with a bad case of bleeding-out-of-everywhere. The thought doesn't cause Jarat to display any emotion, but the more empathic Wolf growls softly.
Before being able to answer questions, 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 the group, “Greetings Captain Demrick” and with a hint of quickly suppressed exasperation ”Introduce yourselves.” Tercio looks around at group and waits for a reply.
”I’d like to welcome you to town.”
Tercio makes a show of refusing to help the Pathfinders—as well as the town guard and the Eagle Knights—”Find Thalia for her own safety.” as he explains, ”I received a letter threatening Thalia’s life should I help investigators. Although I do not explicitly forbid you from pursuing the kidnappers, I insist that I cannot help you either.”
You can notice covert messages being passed between Bryton and Andares: Bryton is nonverbally ensuring that Andares is all right with the unusual visitors and Andares is assuring Bryton that there’s nothing to worry about.
You get a hunch that Andares knows more than he lets on, although he does not state any falsehoods and indignantly rebuffs any suggestions of the sort.
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Truddig tries to get a read on Tercio. It had already been raised that the man was gaining from the sympathy over his daughter's disappearance, and this only raised the suspicion more. But if the man was complicit--or not--he was good at hiding it. Truddig saw nothing to go on either way.
"Bah. The only one who benefits if you don't help us is them, the kidnappers. You're a fool if you don't see that. Help us help you; it's the only way we get your daughter back. When we find her, it won't matter if the kidnappers are mad at you or not."
"They'll be mad anyway. Don't be a fool."