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Ēoswulf nods. "I think you're right. Let's go." He walks up to the shop, opens the door, and enters.
-Posted with Wayfinder
The man that addressed you outside is behind a counter, and steps back to the door and knocks once. Then he walks back toward his desk.
"How can I help you, today?"
Talia whispers to Hinkle, "I do recognize this fellow, but cannot recall his name."
The shelves are lined with various medicines, salves, and elixirs, some of which have collected a bit of dust.
While you look around, a middle-aged half-elf woman with platinum blonde hair, gray-green apothecary’s robes, and huge goggles peeks out the door. "Ah, yes. You have come. As you may or may not know, my name is Koriana Verdothia, and this is my shop. Barnabas here," motioning to the man at the desk, "wasn't able to help you? Well then, how may I assist you today?"
Talia whisper back, "Yes. I thought I recognized her handwriting on the note before, and this just seems to confirm it. I think she was working with my uncle."
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"Perhaps you can help us identify the origin of this letter?"
Ēoswulf hands over the letter from the mercenary
-Posted with Wayfinder
She comes out the door, to take the letter, and two large toughs follow her and stand ready.
“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.” She then offers to brew tea.
“We all have our goals,” she continues. “The elder Andares did not hire you to investigate, so what is a band of Pathfinders hoping to acquire here?”
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Ēoswulf rolls his eyes at the not-so-subtle threat of violence, clearly nonplussed. She knows we would make short work of them.
"Listen, woman, you know far too much without having even opened that letter for us to trust you. I think we can talk things over out here just fine. Why don't you start by explaining your role in all of this and how you know what you do?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Hmm. I am not in the habit of simply sharing information without something first. What are your goals here? I can probably help you, but in order to do so, I need to know what you want. Otherwise, we will simply have to part ways now."
"You sure use pretty words when trying to sweet talk a lady. Try again."
The two toughs now assume positions on either side of her, and it looks like this is going to turn hostile.
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Ēoswulf frowns at Hinkle for a moment before turning back to the woman. "We are hoping to secure additional aid for the crusade to the worldound, but I confess we feel little reason to trust you. You know too many things to seem like an innocent bystander in recent events. I am willing to let you try to persuade us oyherwise"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Ah, well now we are getting somewhere. If you want aid, then I can help you. If you surrender Thalia, I know that I can convince Tercio to use his financial resources to back the Pathfinders’ mission in Mendev."
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"And what would then happen to the lady? I am hardly one to rescue someone from a kidnapping just to sell them off for my own benefit."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Special? Why nothing really... no offense, dear... it's just, well, let's say she is sticking her toes in pools with sharks, and causing quite a stir. She is young and impetuous and could destabilize the entire region, if left unchecked!"
She continues, directing her comments now to Ēoswulf. "As for what will happen to her, why nothing bad, of course. She will not be hurt. 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, I promise that I will do my best to ensure that no harm will come to her wherever she goes."
Thalia, standing slack jawed and bewildered, stammers "So this was my uncle? That corrupt, unjust tyrant in sheep’s clothing! I could use what I know to have him arrested, convicted and thrown out of office! Even if it costs me my life, I could see it done... Yes! 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."
Koriana shakes her head sadly, but let's Thalia finish. "Maybe, maybe... but that is certainly not guaranteed. And who knows what that thread will unravel. And even if it happened, only he would be able to provide military aid through his consulship in addition to his family fortune, whereas Thalia could only aspire to secure the latter."
They both look at you, curious what your next step may be...
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Hinkle tugs at his beard before looking at Thalia. "Your financial backing would be appreciated, but we would also need the support of the military." The gnome tugs on his beard some more. "There was that high ranking eagle knight back at your uncles manor. He seemed generally concerned with your well being. Perhaps he could assist us with the military backing we would require in exchange for rooting out this corruption?"
"Umm, sure... if he isn't going to prison with my uncle. I can certainly help you make your case," Thalia says.
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Ēoswulf slowly shakes his head. "I see the appeal, but this is one deal I will not make. The girl goes where she wills, and that is not with you."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Fillia looks at Thalia. Her decision made.
She says "Yes!"
Breaking the silence that is bound to follow her own words, she clarifies with a grin even as her hand lies on the hilt of her own blade.
"Thalia would not go with you but we are at an impasse I would say. We would need both the miltary and finances for our Society. It seems to me here that we're likely to forego one or another."
A slight twinkle enters her eyes, "Or....with your help, we gain the best of both worlds."
She looks around the shop, wondering what else she might have missed in this shop should it come down to a fight.
The place is filled with shelves covered in vials and bottles of various sizes. Should a fight break out, things are going to get broken.
Koriana, sensing that this is not going her way, steps back as she taps her brutes. "Ok, boys. Take them out. Don't hurt the girl if you can avoid it, but this needs to end today."
They move forward.
Koriana manages to close her eyes briefly, just in time to avoid the color spray.
The two thugs, unfortunately, take it straight to the face. Bother are blinded and stunned.
Koriana screams as the arrow draws a line of blood across her cheek.
She retaliates by mixing some vials and throwing a bomb at Fillia.
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Ēoswulf draws his sword as he clambers onto the counter, then he slashes at the woman with a cry of rage.
for
-Posted with Wayfinder
Koriana is hit, and then the feeling of doom washes over her. She raises her hands and says "Ok! We're done... I surrender!"
Her henchmen look lost, as they still clearly have some fight in them, but ultimately they follow Koriana's lead and surrender.
The two henchmen fall asleep, and Koriana barely staves it off.
You are able to secure your foes, and discuss the situation with Thalia.
Max searches for spells, but what he finds may prove much more valuable. Koriana’s display case contains a large number of potions, including a potion of enlarge person, a potion of reduce person, a potion of invisibility, and three potions of cure light wounds. He also finds small lockbox hidden beneath the floorboards under her writing desk.
Koriana has kept many of the missives that Tercio Andares sent to her in the event that he should ever think to use her as a scapegoat. Collectively, the documents provide incomplete evidence that the Andares family has colluded with several other noteworthy families to rig local elections and keep each other in important offices. The documents also suggest that Sander Bryton might be involved in helping Tercio Andares to remain a consul in return for similar treatment.
Thalia, upon hearing of Bryton’s possible involvement, shares that although he is suspect, he may be able to provide you with military aid.
Thalia contacts Captain Merton Demrick to have her father arrested. Between her testimony and the papers you found, the courts eventually convict him of betraying his oath of office and Common Rule, stripping him of property and position. (Further investigations may eventually lead to the conviction of Sander Bryton, but he survives the Andares case practically unscathed.)
Thalia’s unswerving adherence to Common Rule and her role in rooting out corruption cause the judge to favor her request to maintain much of the family’s property with some concessions, and she donates much of the Andares fortune to the Pathfinder Society.
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Ēoswulf approaches Bryton. "The courts have let you off. I would say you have a debt to pay; help the Society at the worldwound and I think you would be on your way to repaying it."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Bryton agrees, and your are able to go home, heads held high. You made some powerful enemies, and the mission took much longer than expected (since the trial was rather long), but in the end you secured the backing you needed.
After a brief rest you are summoned to the Pathfinder lodge in Katheer operated by Venture-Captain Esmayl ibn Qaradi, who is abroad but has left written instructions for you.
In viewing the Venture Captain's vault you find the following potential gifts for the wake. A silver-chased scimitar, a gold ring bearing three sapphires, or a steel shield bearing an image of Sarenrae painted in gold and studded with garnets. The note instructed you to choose one.
After selecting the gift, and making any preparations you choose, you head directly to the estate elsewhere in Katheer.
When you arrive, servants of Zarmina’s family see to your immediate needs and direct you to a study, where you meet Trade Prince Aaqir al’Hakam.
Dressed in a white linen robe tied with a silk sash, Trade Prince Aaqir al’Hakam stands behind a desk in this small study. He spreads his arms wide in welcome, though his face speaks to his fatigue and grief. “You are a welcome sight, Pathfinders, and I trust you are here at the behest of the esteemed Esmayl ibn Qaradi. As you can tell, this is not a day to uncover fresh secrets. Rather, it is one of mourning for Zarmina Bahjari—a noble trade princess, my mentor, and the reason I ever became a trade prince. I am here to see to her estate, act as executor of her will, and carry on her commercial interests."
“It may seem strange to engage in business during so somber an occasion, but trade happens quickly in Qadira; my late aunt by marriage would actually be disappointed were I not to wrangle her vulture-like competitors into submission. Even so, it would be unseemly for a member of Zarmina’s family to conduct business at her wake."
“Though I have inherited much from my mentor, I do not intend to sit idly and live off her successes. It is still my intention to strengthen trade routes throughout the Inner Sea while making the Pathfinder Society my chief ally. I want you to stand as an example of what we have to gain by continuing to work with the western nations."
“For that reason, I requested the Society’s aid because we have only a brief window of opportunity to speak with our rivals and convince them instead to become our allies. There are five in particular that I would benefit from your attention, and I understand several of them maintain their own rivalries with one another. Win over as many as you can, and I shall speak with them afterward to negotiate any details. Is that agreeable?”