Anoter dog, unaware of Merisiel try, follows its mate and bite at the cow who moos of pain.
My cow ! Please save her ! It's my only treasure ! Says in despair the old man.
Kaï
Before gnawing anyone else, one of the dog has its head cut off by Lod's greataxe.
Zora moves to flank one of the dog with Lōd.
She find an easy opening but her hit is not strong enough to kill the dog who barks at her, its slobbering mouth.
The two other dogs, join their brother against the cow who moos wiht pain and terror !
Merisiel draws her rapier and attacks the dog hit by Zora's shortsword.
The dogs after a last "kaï" falls, bleeding on the road.
The other continues to bite the poor cow, at the verge of death.
A third dog collapses under Zora's attack.
Before the cow will be kill by the last dog, Lōd's strike killed it at the elderly farmer joice.
The elderly farmes thanks the group, seeming to not have recognize Thalia.
I'm Oviato. Thanks for saving Marguerite, she's old but she's all I have left ! You don't seems to be from the town guard...
Since Tercio was elected mayor, it has been more concerned with preparing his parades and doing favors for his friends than with keeping the town safe from wild threats like these dogs !
If... if I may, could you heal Marguerite ?
Thalia, whispers for herself after Oviato's comments As Benedict will have says "how dangerous it can be for a leader to focus on politics over the needs of the people" ...
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Lod nods. "No problem, Oviato. The lady Shelyn has granted me healing powers." Lod places his hands on the cow's wounds.
"It is a shame your Mayor hasn't been looking out for you. But don't you have a democracy here? Can't you just vote him out if you feel he isn't doing a good job. Maybe you should run. Or Marguerite here!"
Lod chuckles and then asks, "We're actually looking for the chemist's shop. Can you point the way?"
The cow moos when Lōd healed it but it's still very badly hurt.
Oviato thanks again Lōd for his help and agress with Zora's remark as well as Anna comment about his own.
I will
As the pathfinders talks a man get out of the shop and waving at the groups says
I've heard a fight ! Glad to see that nobody seems too badly hurt. Come in ! Koriana’s Exotic Tonics and Remedies have healing potions.
I'm Barnabas by the way, welcome to Sauerton strangers and hello to you Oviato.
Barnabas let you all enter in the shop, asking Oviato to stay outside with his cow.
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.
Once all inside with Thalia, Barnabas close the door and take the note Zora's present.
I don't recognize it, but I could call the owner, Koriana ?
Once he calls her, come from the back room a middle-aged half-elf woman with platinum blonde hair, gray-green apothecary’s robes, and huge goggles.
Hello travelers, how may I help you ?
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"Two things, I think. First, we have an injured cow out front, bitten by a rabid animal. Do you have a tonic or salve that can save the cow from the disease? The poor man that owns her needs her to be healthy."
Then, almost as an afterthought, she says "And can you tell us why you wrote these orders to kidnap the mayor's daughter? That just wasn't nice... not nice at all!"
The middle-aged half-elf woman was about to answer Zora question but stay silent a moment after Zora talks about the mayor's daughter kidnapping.
She smiles and says Barnabas, took these tonic to the cow. showing several vials displayed on the shelves.
Then, once the man get out with the vials, she continues smiling adding
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.
Taking cups and glass she offers some refreshment. Please, take a seat and do you prefer tea or a stronger beverage ?
Once everybody sit, and accept or not her offer of beverage, she continues
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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Zora smiles, and nods, happy to avoid violence if possible.
"As you can probably surmise, our motivations may be multifaceted, as I expect are your own. To be direct, Mr. Andares specifically asked us not to get involved, but I have a special motivation to see all people free - and so could not walk away from a kidnapped victim. Our society, as well, preferred to see justice, but also does hope that our efforts here are appreciated enough to see the favor returned - perhaps by providing some assistance in their current struggles."
She accepts a cup of tea, but does not immediately taste it, instead blowing on it to cool it off.
"Now, I have been quite open in my designs. How about we hear your tale?"
Koriana smiles at Zora's words and responds I'm sure my *employer* will be more than happy to help your Society in any way he can. But, as you said, help doesn't come cheap.
And I fear, that Thalia's liberty is one of those price.
after a pause she continues after a snark from Thalia Thalia's liberty is too much a risk for my employer. She needs to be held far away from here. Galt's prison was a good way to put away Thalia, but this plan is no foiled by your action.
But, may be could we agree in some sort of compromise ?
After Koriana's words Thalia speaks And how my liberty could be a risk madame ? Who is your employer ? My Father may be ?
She turns to the Pathfinder and adds Koriana is working for my father, I don't know exactly how or why but I'm pretty sure she is. My father is a corrupted man, an unjust tyrant in sheep !
In the name of Liberty and Freedom he must be stopped and face trial !
I have proofs ! Hidden in my chamber at my father's house.
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Pardon my naivete, miss Koriana, but do they have prisons in Galt? Anna says with a sneer of sarcasm, my understanding is that the preferred method of dealing with criminals is by the blades. Perhaps this is a detail that did not bother you in the grander scheme of things?
When Thalia speaks up Anna is shocked Mayor Andares? Are you sure, lady Andares? then sturning to Koriana Is this true what she says? she says with fiery voice, briefly breaking from outrage of it all Did Andares stage this kidnapping? For we will find out if it is!
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Lod too avoids drinking anything offered by Koriana. "Indeed! Is Thalia here telling the truth, Koriana? Is the Mayor her father really your employer? Either way, I must insist that you come with us straight to the sheriff to account for your crimes in this whole scheme. And if you don't come with us peacefully, we'll drag you along. And then we'll march Thalia straight to her chamber so she can show us the evidence herself. So you might as well come clean and tell us the real story!"
Koriana laughs at the Pathfinder's speeches. Before taking the tone of a mother to her children she answers
Please, please don't be so dramatic Pathfinders. Letting young Thalia go freely will accomplish nothing good.
You have no legal authority here. You are stranger and Tercio is the legal mayor of Sauerton. Trying to fight Tercio, me, or both, would be a waste of lives and accomplish nothing.
I know the Society needs ressources, financial and military. Tercio's connection will help to do that.
She turns to Anna and said Yes Galt has prisosn, but you're right, I was misguided by the ease of this solution. But I learn from my mistake.
If you let Thalia to my care, I promise that I will do my best to ensure that no harm will come to her wherever she goes.
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.
Thalia red by anger responds to Koriana's speech.
They want me gone, because I know the Truth ! My father is an hypocrit and a corrupted man ! He's a shame upon what Andoran's fight for.
He don't care for the people, he don't believe in the Common Rule !
He only want Power and establish a new order where rich people govern the poor.
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I am hardly a stranger, Miss Koriana, I am a citizen of Andoran, and I have more right to be one than this corrupted mayor of yours, elected as he may be. We will see to it that you are arrested on charges of conspiracy, fraud, and kidnapping. As for Mayor Andares, we shall not suffer a man to hold office who abuses it in such a manner. No, no, no, thrice no! If there is a member of the Andares family worthy of the name, it would be Thalia, not her power-hungry father!
My dear child how refreshing you are !
Even if Tercio were to be convicted, not a guarantee I can assure you of that, only he would be able to provide military aid through his consulship in addition to his family fortune.
Thalia could only aspire to secure the latter, after a very long time...
Koriana continues I understand your idealised view of Andoran, you're young. But please, look at the greater picture. Nobody's white, all politician are grey. Supporting Thalia will only risk the stability of the entire region, triggering a veritable witch hunt for corrupt politicians that would also harm innocent leaders. Breaking Andoran in its core !
Be reasonnable Pathfinders, don't harm Andoran for just one girl !
Thalia responds When my father is convicted of kidnapping me and betraying his oath to uphold Common Rule, his property will be forfeit and pass to his next of kin—me—and I will provide all the funding that my father could.
She continues saying With what I know, my father’s trial would be over in a few months !
Koriana turns her ire on Thalia answering with cold anger His trial, perhaps ! but the turmoil of trials for his suspected collaborators will linger for years, YEARS !
And before you say anything about "due process" or "how Andoran can pay attention to Mendev at the same time", let me ask this :
Have you been to Galt?
Go there if you want to see the enduring and self-absorbing power of human vindictiveness, still churning after decades of revolution and punishment.
I don't want seeing Andoran becoming Galt !
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"Please, Koriana - let me speak with my friends briefly?"
She pulls the others aside for a minute. "Listen, these people make me sick. But we have to consider that our mission here was not really to rescue this girl, but instead to do so as a means to secure financial assistance. We have essentially done that, and now risk undoing it by fighting this battle. We can tell them of the corruption, and of how despicable these people are, but I cannot guarantee that our Venture-Captain will care. Perhaps we try to find a solution that works to protect Thalia from any real harm, but I expect there is no way to solve this family battle without her having some inconveniences. What do you think?
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"Look here," Lod says, getting quite angry as the conversation becomes heated. "I'm from way up north and our laws are different. But if Thalia here says she doesn't want to go with you, then we're not giving her to you and that's final! Besides, if her father really is trying to send her away, he's clearly up to no good! Society mission be damned, I can't stand by and watch a father try to kidnap and execute his own daughter!" Lod reaches for his sword. "I think it's time to let the light of justice shine on this situation, and if Andoran is half the liberated place it claims to be it will see that the Mayor is corrupt and the Society has no place bargaining with a man like him anyways!"
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Indeed, one of the central tenets of liberty is freedom from slavery, and no person that is not able to choose his or her own destiny is truly free. It would be a dark day indeed if we were to hand over Thalia to your whims. The hypocrisy! You speak of the horrors of Galt, yet you were to one who would have sent Thalia there, left to face whims of the same people you so abhor!
This conversation is over, there will be no further bargaining. We cannot allow this situation to continue, no matter what the consequences. If this costs the society support from the eagle knights, then so be it! We cannot fight monsters while we loose sight of our own humanity, as we'd only feed the monster within.
Thalia turns toward the Pathfinders.
Thank you Pathfinder, I know it's a hard choice for you to make. But, as an adept of the Common Rule and a reader of Alysande Benedict, I can't let people monopolize Power for their own persanl gain, even if it's my father.
I will try to do my best to help you and your organization Pathfinder. Now it's time for Justice.
Koriana answers with a sad tone. I had hope that you will come to our senses Pathfinders, but its seems your believes cloud your judgment.
You may think you have won a battle here, but you lose a war.
Then, she shouts Time to come.
Merisiel acts first and surprises Koriana with a well placed hit !
One of his guard open the door and tries to strike at Merisiel
Lady Koriana, get out ! We will protect you.
But the hit is deviated by the frame door.
Thalia takes a defensive position trying to get out of the way of the more able combattant.
Tries to get her alive, we need proof ! she said