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.”
|
After the briefing, Gruugdúrz says "I have no questions. It all sounds pretty straightforward."
On the way to the boat, Gruugdúrz admires Dylara's longsword.
"Very nice indeed. I'm sure that must have cost a princely sum. Me, I prefer two-handed weapons in a fight."
After a pause he concludes:
"Of course, if I am ever without my tools of my trade, Ia weapon! But I'm sure you'll get to see that soon enough!"
… and grins to emphasize his tusks, which are rather large for a half-orc.
|
Ludovico listens attentively to Venture-Captain Brackett, keeping his face neutral with some effort. He can't help but wonder, not without amusement, at the sense of irony of whichever authority in the Pathfinder Society that sent him to the capital of Andoren.
He listens to Major Maldris with considerably less amusement. Freedom and Democracy, indeed. Ludovico says quietly, thinking to himself, "Wouldn't want you to sully your hands in this 'political practice of mutual backscratching', you smug bastard."
As the Venture-Captian finishes his instructions, Ludovico says, Right: introductions, rescue operation, then negotiations. Sounds easy enough. I am ready to go.
|
|
"How do we know that his daughter has been kidnapped? Has there been a ransom note, or some sort of indication that has lead her father to believe that she has been kidnapped? I mean she could have just as easily ran off with someone, right?"
Thallin carefully inspects his provisions then addresses the Venture-Captain one last time.
"Whats the climate like this time of year in Sauerton?"
|
|
An athletic and shapely tiefling slinks from her chair after receiving the instructions. Walking past Ludovico, her tail caresses his shoulder, almost like a hand. Whether the tiefling intended to do this or not is unclear, as she is looking ahead.
She stretches luxuriously before addressing the others.
"I'm Saarai Shae," she says. "I'm a relic thief. I'll be dealing with scouting, traps, and other stealthy operations. I'm well-equipped to handle a variety of problems," she adds.
"Sneaking in and stealing back a captive seems easier than stealing many relics I've taken...we can do this."
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.
|
|
Eldon explains all he knows about the mission "My contacts in Sauerton say Tercio Andares is the Mayor of the town and consul of the Andoran military. Despite recent attacks in the Verduran Forest, he has remained popular thanks to him employing most of the town in his Sauerton Red winery" the elf becomes a bit stern as he finishes "Some people in the region say the Andares family is rotten, but they are unpopular and encouraged to leave town when they make trouble for Tercio"
"Perhaps the kidnapping is related with the father's business then..."
You know
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.
|
|
“I can think of a number of possibilities that would inspire an act like kidnapping. First, the father is intermixed in the local political gears. Second, the family is wealthy. Third, we are close to the Worldwound, which could have dire consequences in itself. Fourth, the fact that we are involved would motivate any number of our nay-sayers. The only way to get to the bottom of this will be to headout and start an investigation."
Thallin walks over to the door and prepares to head out. “Are we ready to go?”
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?"
|
|
"Hello Captain Demrick. My name is Gruugdúrz Staz Dushûrz. We are here on business. I am a bodyguard. We are here on business. My colleague here …" motioning with a bow to Ludovico "… can explain things much better than I can."
… with hisattempt at charm, he quickly shuffles back to the let the Chelaxian do all the talking.
"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 thoughtfull 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."