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In Iomedae's name I will not let ... this !... happen !
It's not justice nor Right. I could not agree with such a scam. If Lady Thalia want justice to be done in Andoran's Laws I will back her and be sure his father face the justice he deserve. Not the other way around.
Even if I personally don't agree, at all, to all these nonsense Andoran's principles and "Common Law" my honor his bound as my word to Justice.
We have a duty as a Pathfinder but I have a greater duty as a Paladin of Iomedae. As long as will be a part of this team I would not agree to any term of trading Thalia's life or liberty. She deserve justice.
Karos I back you up and Thalia, my words as my sword is with you
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Roland had been listening intently, trying not to get involved in choosing sides, but finally speaks up.
"I agree with lady Maxime, maybe for different reasons. If we cannot fall back to zhe law to protect zhe individual rights, zhen who will? Family honor is important, but zhe father has crossed zhe line. . ".
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"And yet, the man must have had cause, huh. . ."
Turning to Koriana, "What is it exactly that Thalia did to draw the wrath of her family? And if her father where to be caught, would Thalia then wear his crown, claiming all of his possession, or would someone else rule in his stead? How long would all of this take to sort out, and what do you think would happen to this land in the mean time?"
Thalia: I´m sure Andoran´s people will rally behind me and help you out too! After all that is what Andoran stands for! 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 for your aid!
Koriana retorts:If Tercio were to be convicted — not a guarantee — 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. Supporting Thalia will risk the stability of the entire region, triggering a veritable witch hunt for corrupt politicians that would harm innocent leaders.
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To Maxime: Very well, I should only hope you have enough proof to have him put away for good.
To Thalia: I do hope that you can live up to the Society's expectations. Know that we will aid you if you can grant us your family's financial support, as well as troops and military support in the war to come in the Worldwound.
*sigh* Paladins...
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Karos of course agrees. He's the one that suggested it.
"I wonder if we're not leaving something on the table, here," he says. "Koriana, you seem to be pretty well connected to the politics around here. If we don't want to turn Thalia over to her father and we don't want to let Tercio get away with his crime, can you see another way to get the support we came to secure? Is there anyone else we might be able to get it from?"
Koriana: There is no other way. Neither i nor Tercio will tolerate that. But don´t worry, if you ust hand her over now, everything will be fine. 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 says: With what I know, my father’s trial would be over in a few months. That would be the fastest and best way. Also it would be the right way!
Koriana then interjects: His trial, perhaps, but the turmoil of trials for his suspected collaborators will linger for 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.
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Roland looks at the girl with a very serious expression.
"Miss Thalia, if we decide to support your side in zhis matter against your father, you must be open and honest with us. We do not undertake zhis decision lightly. A trial is not a trivial matter. Is zhere anyzhing else you need to tell us? What your father did is inexcusable, but we must be sure to have zhe facts from both sides."
Roland waits for her answer or any other questions from his team.
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Karos crosses his arms and frowns. "I'm not sending Thalia back to a kidnapper, regardless of any potential benefits to the Society," he says. He hopes that all the Pathfinders will come to this conclusion on their own.
"I strongly suspects that Koriana is more than a little complicit in Tercio's crimes and I therefore have no interest in corrupt deals with her, either. In the name of Cayden Cailean, I say enough talk. We're taking the girl."
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With Thalia testimony and proof and as she agreed to help the Pathfinder Society by funding our expedition to the Worldwound I think we will have fulfill all our duty as a Pathfinder and as supporter of what is Right.
Politics must not be gray. The end does not justify the means.
Then Maxime turn to Koriana.
I'm sure of your involvement in Consul Andares' scheme. Please surrender yourself to Andoran's justice. I'm sure Thalias will plead your cause and the court will see with good grace your testimony and will spare you.
I don't want more bloodshed than there already had.
Koriana:Well too bad. And there i thought you are open to reason.
With this words she produces an odd small bottle in her hands and lobs it onto you. Two men storm out of the back chamber with drawn weapons, while Barnabas retreats to the back chamber.
Mandas is the right one, Jyrnas the left one.
Roland has barely time to react before Koriana throws the bottle right on Quinn.
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Rysalius moves onto the counter and slashes at Koriana with his sharp blade. You have chosen your fate, witch. See the tissue of reality unravel in front of your very eyes! Die!
The massive slash delves deep inside the woman's chest, bathing the small shop in her blood. The barytone's voice emerges from the chaos: Surrender and your lives shall be spared! You have nothing to gain from a battle with us.
In the crossfire between Karos and Rysaluis, Koriana goes down in a second, bleeding from a shot and a huge gash. The rest surrenders immediately, one of them with an arrow sticking out of his chest and breathing heavily. Thalia insists on not letting Koriana die and keeping her alive as a major witness.
Thalia contacts Captain Merton Demrick to have her father arrested. The courts eventually convict him of betraying his oath of office and Common Rule, stripping him of property and position. Further investigations
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.
That concludes the scenario.