Thalia seems surprised to be asked, but gives a refined shrug and nods. "I don't see why not."
Koriana leads the way into a back sitting area and moves to the back wall, where a pot sits over a fire. She gathers some herbs and roots, tossing them into the pot, before returning to the group. "Now then, let's talk plainly. We all have our goals. Just what is a band of Pathfinders hoping to accomplish here, and why?"
"But why?" replies the alchemist, as she stands up and returns with a pot and a stack of teacups. "What do you get out of it?"
"Hmm..." nods the woman, considering Phinellippa's words thoughtfully. "Perhaps, but you are being no less duplicitous; I ask again... what do you get out of this?"
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"What do we get out of it?" Verrix asks in genuine confusion. "A woman was kidnapped. She has been rescued. It is the right thing to do. Is that not enough?"
"Yes, it is true, there are more ills in the world than any one of us can address, and so the question arises, why did we seek to right this particular ill? Well, we were put on to it by the Pathfinder Society because they are interested in a potential alliance with the family of the woman who was kidnapped, and so, the Society thought that by doing the right thing, they might also help forward their goals. Call it enlightened self-interest."
Verrix pauses, as he realizes that his tone has become defensive, and the Pathfinders are very much not the ones to be defensive in this situation. He knows most people wouldn't think that doing something to further one's own interests is something shameful, but he can't help but feel guilty about all of the other suffering people out there who don't have well-connected fathers to attract the attention of something as powerful as the Pathfinder Society.
He returns to an assertive tone. "But that is neither here nor there! By the very asking of your question, you have admitted complicity in this! So, before we turn you over to law enforcement, you may make things easier on yourself by telling us who else, besides that Galtan stooge you lied to, is involved. Or, if nobody knows, what did you hope to achieve by kidnapping this woman? Was it simply for the ransom?"
The alchemist's face lightens a bit at Verrix' words. "Ahh... so." After a lengthy pause, she nods again, more slowly this time. "So. Firstly, I did not abduct Thalia. Second, I think that I can help you achieve your object; leave the girl with me, and I will ensure that the mayor finds your offer of an alliance to be... most appealing."
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Kleines look up in surprise as Iovo adopts a sterner tone than he's seen thus far.
Let's try to calm things down a bit. Maybe we can figure out what the heck is going on here if we can just get the alchemist talking.
"We seem to be talking across each other here. Verrix here has explained our interest in the situation, in his own way. I would appreciate it if you would tell us about your involvement, from your own perspective."
Koriana bristles at Iovo's words and tone, but relaxes slightly when Kleines speaks up. "Ah, now, here's a reasonable one," she remarks, letting the hint of a smile touch her visage. "Thalia was never going to be harmed; I give you my word on that, and I'll extend it to if you leave her with me now."
She pauses for a moment, studying the faces before her. "You get what you want; Terc--err, the rest of us get what we want. Why make things more difficult than they need to be?"
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"Well, first of all, we're not leaving Thalia anywhere. She can make her own decisions. If she wants to stay here, she can, although you're not exactly presenting any compelling reasons here. If she wants to come with us, they she stays with us. And now, perhaps you should do as Kleines says. Explain what exactly you're doing."
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Garif nods along with Phinellippa as she asserts, quite reasonably, that
Thalia can decide for herself what she does, then weighs in with own thoughts, "From what you've said so far, Koriana, I can't imagine going along with what you propose. Why did you have anything to do with the girl's disappearance? What were you after?"
Koriana sighs, clearly running out of patience. "Now look here. I don't care whether the girl stays here 'of her own free will' or because you tell her to... and neither should you. What you should be concerned about is your own goal here: you want an alliance with the Andares family? You're not going to get it by 'rescuing' the girl and returning her where she isn't wanted."
The alchemist pauses, staring at the group for a moment as if anticipating a reaction, but she speaks up again before anyone else can do so. "Who do you think arranged her removal? Really arranged it, I mean, not worked out the details. If you want an alliance with Tercio, you'll respect his wishes and leave the girl here with me -- she'll not be harmed in any way -- and the mayor will see to it that you're duly rewarded."
Thalia's eyes go wide at Koriana's words, but she doesn't seem quite as surprised as might be expected. Whirling on the group, she counters, "I could help you! If that tyrant of a father were convicted of corruption, I would be empowered to ally our family with your Society myself!"
"Ha!" replies Koriana, with no hint of amusement. "Foolish girl! Even if your father were convicted -- and that's hardly guaranteed, mind you -- all you'd have to offer these Pathfinders would be your family's wealth; your father, on the other hand, could offer them that as well as the influence of his consulship in military matters!
"And what if he were convicted? Even a charge of corruption would set off so many witch hunts for other 'corrupt' leaders that the whole region would likely be thrown into chaos. Is that your 'vision' for our future, Thalia?"
Thalia frowns slightly, but seems at something of a loss.
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“Or you could give testimony of Tercel’s complicity in Talia’s kidnapping as part of a plea for clemency. Like many in this town, it appears that you currently live in fear of his power.” Iovo suggests.
Now I know why that Maldris person wanted us to watch for any signs of corruption. If we can keep this woman talking, hopefully she will spill more of what is really going on.
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Garif shakes his head in puzzlement and consternation, quietly muttering to himself, "Moments like this, I wonder why I left the mines. A stone is a stone, you know where it came from and what it'll do if struck, how it'll look if polished, how hard it is and how heavy...people, not so much."
He puts on his brightest smile - though it looks a little forced - and says, "Yes, perhaps we use the law to bring justice, since that's what it's for."
The middle-aged woman stares at the group for a moment, then shakes her head. Her tone changes a bit, becoming harder and a bit less friendly. "You folks don't listen very well, do you? Did you not hear what I just said about the chaos an accusation like that would cause? One abduction, without harming the girl... that's a worthy price to pay for stability, don't you think?"
Koriana openly rolls her eyes. "If you believe that, you're more gullible than most elves. Of course the Galtans had to be told that, or they wouldn't have done their jobs. She wasn't destined for that any more than the Old Badger is!"
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“Okay, I’ll bite.” Damiar swings her long legs around, and then crosses them as she sits on the counter, watching Koriana closely. “So... What was your plan to stopping the Galtans from taking the girl to Galt? For that matter, what was your plan for Thalia and her future? Where would you send her? Where would she go?”
The elf reaches out a hand in solidarity to Thalia. “It sounds to me like Thalia was being sent away as a matter of the political inconvenience of her Father. While it would be expedient for us to take your offer, what use is an alliance with a leader so corrupt that he would choose to send a child into exile for merely speaking her mind? Yes, we would like an alliance with Tercio. Yes, we would like more troops sent to Mendev. But at what cost? The crusade doesn’t just need allies, it also needs allies we can trust. Tell me, Koriana, can we trust Tercio? If so, what makes him trustworthy to us when he would treat his own child so poorly?”
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"I do not like any of this," Verrix says. "A father arranges the abduction of his own daughter? Why? Why would he do such a thing?"
Shaking his head, he says, "Sometimes I think it would be better if all humans were raised by dragons."
Looking up at Koriana, he says, "We will not deal with you. And we will not deal with Tercio. He will be brought to justice for what he has done. I have enough faith in the good people of Andoran that they will rally around Thalia, especially when they know the truth of what has happened. Tercio can offer us more influence, but at the cost of our honor, our own self-worth, and this young woman's self-determination. That is not a good bargain."
He turns to Thalia. "We will do what we can to help you. Come. Let's go speak from the sherrif and approach your father."
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Garif waits in stony silence, as the machinations on both sides of the discussion have outpaced his methodical way of thinking. He glances down at Nico, who quirks one eyebrow up as if asking an unvoiced question, before settling his chin down on his broad paws and closing his eyes.
A sound strategy, my furry friend, Garif thinks with a sigh.
Although she opens her mouth to reply to Damiar, Koriana's expression darkens as the rest of the group refuses to be reasonable. Standing, she moves to the wall behind the counter and refills her tea. A moment later, she whirls on the group. "You will leave her with me!" she cries. "Guards!"
The sounds of chairs being pushed quickly across the floor is audible from the back room.
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♫ Time to wise up, face your defeat
Koriana what is your game here?
Your minions coming, ours to defeat
You’re lucky if we take you alive
So many times it happens too fast
You trade your ethics for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive
It's a tongue of a liar
Vesus a fight for what’s right
Rising up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor
Can spit out the Sauerton wine
All we got to do is stop a tongue of a liar ♫
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Kleines' fist finds an opening, knocking the breath out of Koriana. A moment later, the alchemist blinks at the coruscating magical auras, then suddenly keels sideways and sinks to the ground, unconscious. Sounds can still be heard from the back room.
Verrix waits to see what might happen as a result of the sounds from the back room; he does not have to wait long, however, as two men come rushing out a moment later! "Murder!" shouts one. "Help! Robbery!" cries the other.
The two take up defensive positions and raise their weapons against Kleines!
Barnabas, the alchemist's apprentice, comes running out and begins attempting to wake Koriana.
The guard struck by Kleines glowers back at the group. "Oh sure, ya don't want to hurt anyone... she says, after doin' one in already."
The injured guard hesitates slightly and glances at his companion, but the other shakes his sword and retorts, "And we're supposed to just take your word for that? C'mon, Jyrnas, let's see what the sheriff thinks of armed robbery!"
The injured guard (who, it seems, may bear the name 'Jyrnas') nods and his eyes harden as he prepares to continue defending himself.
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With a shrug, Garif gives Nico a pat on the flank and says, "Attack!" As the cat bounds forward, Garif says, "We tried talking to their boss and she wouldn't acknowledge she'd acted wrongly, I don't think these two are going to be any different."
Calling out to the guards, he says, "You know this won't end well for you, right? You'd better give up quick if you want to do that before you end up dead."
Nico rushes up next to Kleines and bites at the nearest guard!