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"Aye, Lass. It cannae be a gud situation when yer father wants tae kidnap yet, but Ahh cannae understand the motive. Fer what gud reason would yer Pa dae such a thing? Sadly, even withoot ana idea what that motive is, Ahh dae still believe yae. Ahh heard that there could be corruption involved, Ahh just never expected it tae be frae yer oon da!"
"Well, mae lass, we're happy tae protect yae, but it's best yae stay near the back and most importantly, stay oot o' trouble."
Thalia gives a wan smile and explains the she has uncovered some evidence of her father engaging in corrupt dealings meant to secure his own wealth and power, undermining Andoran's democratic principles (she mentions she had hidden most of the evidence in her room). Thalia fears that Tercio found out somehow, and has had her kidnapped to save his own neck. She hopes that this is not the case, but feels increasingly certain about it.
Mithradaties notes that although the walls of the cellar are earthen, there is a section of one wall whose packed earth does not match the surrounding stratigraphy.
The dirt easily gives way, revealing a leather bag buried in the wall, itself inside of which you find a (locked) iron box.
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"Thalia, mae pet, dannae worry yer self aboot yer Da's deeds. It isnae yer fault. Ahh'm sure yae still luv 'em an a, but Ahh just cannae believe that the bugger wid put yae in danger all fer greed, politics and power! Sorry fer mae wee tirade, pet, but it just makes me mad tae think aboot! So, yae mentioned that yae hae evidence back in yer room. Ahh was there, yae ken. Ahh searched it pretty well, but didnae find what yae've describin. Is it well hidden in a secret spot, or dae yae think someone else found it? Where should we gae tae retrieve it?"
Once Mithradaties finds the box, Skybek praises the half orc.
"Nice work, mae friend! Keen eyes and common sense always tak Pathfinders far! Aye, that looks like a helpful find. Any o' yae have the skills o' mae thievin bruder, Tybek? He can find traps and pick locks in his sleep. It's funny," Skybek regresses, "Ahh niver really did approve o' what he was dae'n with those talents, but I wouldae found them richt useful noo! Well, if not wid lock picks, mebbae one o' yae could try and break it open?
"So, yae mentioned that yae hae evidence back in yer room. Ahh was there, yae ken. Ahh searched it pretty well, but didnae find what yae've describin. Is it well hidden in a secret spot, or dae yae think someone else found it? Where should we gae tae retrieve it?"
The box shudders under the blow and begins to crack, but the contents are still inaccessible.
Trifle's blade scrapes more rust away but with seemingly little effect.
The crack widens...
Trifle swings mightily at the small iron box and the clanging of metal on rusty metal fills the small chamber. On the final blow, the box bursts open. On the cellar floor now lies a small array of silver and gold bars stamped with the insignia of a Chelish noble house. In the bottom of the ruined lockbox lie three carefully folded pieces of parchment.
Two of the items appear to be scrolls of some kind.
The third may be of particular interest to Frag and Ober: it is an aged contract promising aid from House Morilla of Taldor to the Sauer family in return for future favors.
The Sauer family are now established in Cheliax after they fled during the People's Revolt.
There is no record of House Morilla having received said future favors, so this contract should still be valid.
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Skybek casts detect magic on the scrolls.
"Ahh ken a wee bit aboot nobles and Ahh recognize the name Sauer. Ahh think they were a part o' the people's revolt and fled tae Cheliax. Ahh dannae recall House Morilla ever givin favors tae the Sauer family. Ahh wonder if this all ties intae yae, Thalia, are yae sure yae dannae ken anae connection tae Galt and the Gray Gardeners?"
"The Galtans were lured here under the belief that they were capturing an escaped noble to take to the Gray Gardeners. But as you can see, I am not an escaped noble. I don't think there is any connection. We should, however, look into Koriana's involvement."
One is a scroll of blood biography and the other is a scroll of seek thoughts.
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Saki has been particularly silent since their initial meeting with the Galtan kidnappers, her expression morose. Thalia had come to the same conclusion she herself had--and that made her sadder than anything. Filial piety was supposed to be one of those bonds that would never break; of all the types of love they were, it was one of the strongest. The mother bear protecting her cub, or the look of wonder on a father's face upon seeing his newborn daughter...
For it to be betrayed in this manner was an affront not only to the founding principles of Andoran--principles she herself had come to support in the best interests of people throughout the nation--but also a travesty in the eyes of her faith. And yet she was supposed to be enlisting the support of this corrupt man's armies...? Saki sighs heavily, massaging her temple. Sometimes I wonder why I joined the Society...
"We should seek out this Koriana woman," Saki says with a nod to Thalia. "But... we can't let it be known that we have found Thalia. As soon as the nobles involved in this nonsense realise we've rescued her, I'm sure they will set in motion more corrupt forces against us."
She turns to the young noblewoman with a gentle smile, "Thalia, is there anyone you trust to keep your presence a secret until we get to the bottom of this? Perhaps Captain Demrick?"
"Well, if my father is behind this, he will have known about you as soon as you visited. I think I would rather stay with you to confront Koriana, if you don't mind."
Thalia seems concerned about her father's possible involvement. She wants to help determine if he is guilty or not.
"That note that the Galtan handed you is written in the hand of Koriana, an alchemist who sometimes corresponds with my father and who owns a shop on the edge of town, not far from here."
The party keeps up a lively discussion while making its way to Deadeye's Cross, the location of Koriana's shop. Broad country roads lead in four directions away from the crossroad. To the north, the road from the Sauer Vineyard cuts among golden fields and lush vineyards. To the south and west, the roads into Sauerton (and the Andares manor) are flanked by sparse and apparently abandoned houses (likely used by seasonal migrant farmhands). To the east, the road winds through a grove of apple trees whose leaves are beginning to yellow, beyond which fields stretch among rolling hills as far as the eye can see, long autumn wheat lolling in the light breeze. On the southeast corner an empty shop sits boarded up with broken windows. On the southwest corner a sign advertises "Koriana's Exotic Tonics and Remedies and boasts of "long-forgotten delights of the Inner Sea."
As you approach the crossroad, an elderly farmer leads a cow into town from the east. Suddenly, a howling erupts from the fields, the sound odd in the mid-afternoon sun.
Four wolves suddenly burst from the fields and attack the farmer and his cow, the former giving a cry for help!
The wolves begin to tear the helpless pair apart, prompting Ober to draw his sword and Mithradaties to pop off a spell.
Initiative
Initiative Order
Ober
Wolves
Trifle
Mithradaties
Frag
Skybek
Saki
Surprise round shortly...
Surprise
Ober rushes forward as the wolves begin their assault. Meanwhile the sorcerer intones a spell.
The burst of golden glitter blends in well with the golden wheat beyond, evoking a yelp of surprise from the wolves, cow, and farmer alike. Only one wolf appears to retain its eyesight.
Ober to open round one!
Round I
Ober's blade cuts deep, leaving a red gash in the side of the wolf.
FAIL
FAIL
FAIL
The wolves attempt to shake off their impairment, but the spell holds. Bereft of eyesight, they instead rely on scent to locate their assailants, and move to defend their meal. One has to spend a moment sniffing, but the others snap at Ober.
MISS
MISS
HIT
DMG 7
FAIL
Ober's armor is enough to deflect two sets of jaws, but the third close around flesh and attempt to jerk him to the ground. Fortunately, Ober keeps his balance.
Round I Update:
Ober: Slashes to great effect
Wolves: Move to defend, bite with less effect
Trifle:
Mithradaties:
Frag:
Skybek:
Saki:
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"Sir, be calm! We will protect you!" Saki calls out, frowning as she looks upon the sudden appearance of wolves. Adjusting her grip on her glaive, she says over her shoulder to Thalia, "Stay back here behind us, Thalia. Be careful," before moving to engage the apparently rabid canines.
With a flourish, Saki brings her glaive over her head and then straight down on the nearest wolf's flank.
