Myth will forever curse this box and it's ancestors as he finally cracks open the rusted lock and pry's it slowly open.
The lockbox contains several silver and gold bars stamped with the insignia of a Chelish noble house. In addition, there are three carefully folded pieces of parchment. Two of them seem to be magic scrolls of some sort. The third seems to be a contract promising military aid from House Morilla of Taldor to the Sauer family in return for comparable military aid in the future... the contract specifies a rather large military aid at that.
It may be a stupid question, but I am still trying to learn the politics of the world, but who is the Sauer family? And what would this be doing down here?
The scrolls are scroll of blood biography and a scroll of seek thoughts.
Thalia pipes up at that question.
The Sauer's where one of the old aristocrats that chose to leave during the revolution. Where as my family, the Andares, choose to give up our noble titles to remain as a normal citizen of Andoren, some, like the Sauer's, chose to leave instead.
She waves a hand at the burnt out structure and the barren fields.
As a act of protest, they ruined their estate so no one else could use it before they left. I think they're one of the noble families of Taldor nowadays.
Nigel explains to the group what the scrolls are. He continues, deep in thought, so any military support agreements would be obsolete at this point. I guess it's something the society might have an interest in but I can't think of any help it would give us in this quest.
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Aiden shrugs. "If the Sauers fled Andoran, I would question what military aid they have left to give. But nevertheless your Lady Morilla might want to see that Q'lack. If only for historical purposes."
He examines one of the scrolls after Nigel tells him what it does. "Nigel, this could be useful. Perhaps you can cast it before we find this alchemist. If it works, you might be able to sense what she's thinking as we talk with her." He hands it back to Nigel.
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As the group, gather their findings, Myth prepares to depart...
"Aiden, you might need some healing as we don't know what seeing this alchemist might bring about...Eroil, can you heal him?
Thalia, can you show us the way to this alchemist shop?"
Once everyone is ready, getting the general direction from Thalia, Myth will stealthily scout ahead a bit of the party and be on the lookout, just in case they might be followed or if another ambush awaits them at the shop...
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Persephone lets out a barely audible sigh of relief as the talk of politics wraps up. I'm glad we've found and released Thalia, but boy, this is not what I had in mind when I joined the Society...I never had the head for all this intrigue. It's good the others are more suited. And good there's someone else to take word of this to Lady Morilla... Her face heats up as she recalls the result of her only meeting so far with the Sovereign Court's leader. I hope her servants finally got those wine stains out...
The Galtan bids his farewell, apologizes to Thalia, and asks if he can keep the book. Thalia seems a little sad that he's gone.
The crew begins their march towards the Alchemist's shop on the outskirts of town, and with the rain finished, the road is muddy but clear. Broad country roads lead in four directions away from a
crossroad. To the north, the road to the Sauer Vineyard cuts among golden fields and lush vineyards. To the south, the road into Sauerton is flanked by sparse and apparently abandoned houses. To the west, the road to the Andares manor winds through a grove of apple trees whose leaves have begun to yellow. To the east, fields stretch among rolling hills as far as the eye can see, with long autumn wheat lolling in the wind. 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 from all across the Inner Sea.”
Despite this beauty, however, the Pathfinders are far more distracted by the sight of 4 dogs, foaming at the mouth, hounding a farmer and his cow.
DAGNABBIT! GET AWAY! STAY AWAY FROM BESSIE!
MOOOOOOO!
The dogs bite at the legs of the cow, but the farmer swipes at them... unfortunately, it's obvious he's been at this for a while, and the old man is getting tired. Thalia gasps and looks at the pathfinders.
You must help him! Please!
SAVE THE FARMER!
BATTLE, BEGIN! [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFVj0Z6ahcI]Battle Music![/b]
Round 1: Suprise round, all pathfinders may act
Round 2: Bold May act
Q'lack
Persephone
Eroil
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Dog 1
Dog 2
Dog 3
Dog 4
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Aiden
Myth
Nigel
The eagle finishes forming 5 feet from 2 of the dogs. It moves closer to the one that Q'lack shot at and attempts to bite it.
Nigel sees the opportunity to make a real difference in someone's life and be a hero like he dreamed, even if it's just to this one farmer. It's a step in the right direction.
His instincts kick in and right away he is chanting and making another circle to produce his eagle yet again.
One of the dogs is hit by Q'lack, and turns itself to stare angrily at the frog, prepared to attack! His second shot is a bit wide, overcompensating too much to not hit the farmer.
Myth's shot goes wide as he tries not to hit the farmer.
Struggler quickly jumps the closest dog.
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Thinking quickly, Persephone pulls her loaded gun from its holster at her waist . She hadn't expected a fight, especially before they'd even gotten inside the alchemist's shop, but life had taught her to always be ready. Taking several light steps forward, she aims for one of the rabid hounds , pulling a little to the right to avoid turning Bessie prematurely into steak. But at the thought of steak her stomach rumbles; there'd been no time for lunch in the hurry of rescue, and now her gut reminds her forcefully of that, distracting her enough that her bullet crashes uselessly into the nearby wall.
Struggle pounces on the already wounded dog, ripping out it's throat as he drives the dog to the ground.
Two of the dogs continue harrying the farmer, who waves his pitchfork at them to try and keep the sharp foaming teeth away.
Luckily, the farmer is able to leverage his meager weapon against the hounds to keep them back .
The hound that Persphone shot at however, is started by the loud noise and the crash that occurs and turns it's attention to the source of the loud noise, leaping forward and lunging right underneath the summoned eagle! The eagle lashes out at the dog underneath it as it tries to tear out persphone's throat.
The eagle's sudden attack from above startles the dog, who breaks off his attack and snaps it's jaws shut far from the gunslinger's body. It grows up at the eagle and barks at it, unsure of who to attack.
PATHFINDERS MAY ACT!
Dog 1
Dog 2 [-4]
Dog 3
Dog 4 [Dead]
Struggler continues toward the next dog, biting him.
Persephone's attack goes wide, clipping the dog's fur a little, causing it to jump right onto Eroil's incoming spear! The dog howl's as it dies on the spear, and Myth puts it out of it's misery.
Sruggle runs to the next dog biting at it, but the dog is a wily creature and bounces back, growling at the great cat in turn.
The eagle notices the dog near him is dead and that there are more enemies nearby. The eagle flies over next to Struggler and bites at the dog.
The Eagle flies over, cawing and biting at the dog, but just barely misses.
Nigel sadly creates a bubble of acid that bursts in his hand, splattering him in... vinegar? That is... not how that spell is suppose to work. At all.
The dog that was attacked by struggle attempts to return the favor.
The dog sinks his teeth into Struggles flank, piercing the flesh slightly, but Struggle's stout constitution prevents the contraction of rabies, not that Eroil knows that.
The other dog attacks the farmer again...
This time getting past the pitchfork to tear at his leg. The farmer screams in panic, but unknown to him, he has also escaped the rabies death sentence this day.
PATHFINDERS MAY ACT!
Dog 1
Dog 2 [dead]
Dog 3 -3
Dog 4 [Dead]
The eagle doesn't need to move to attack so it unleashes a flurry of claws and bites.
Myth's dagger flies through the air, slamming into the dog, the dagger piercing it's chest. It crumples to the ground, one dog left.
After receiving the flank order Struggler moves and let´s loose with a bite on the last dog.
Eroil spears the last dog on her spear, and it howls for a moment before becoming still.
The farmer looks at the group and wipes his forehead.
Thank ye. Ever since Tercio was elected mayor, the town guard has been more concerned with preparing his parades and doing favors for his friends than with keeping the town safe from wild threats like mad dogs.
Thalia nods and quotes sagely.
"Beware that those you choose as leader might become addicted to the opium of power, using it to their own delight rather than to administer to the pain of those who need them."
The farmer nods.
That is true... thank ye anyways. I'll get Bessie home... thank you again.
As he begins to wander off with his cow, a man steps out of the alchemist shop. He calls out to the team.
Everybody alright? If ya need, we sell healing potions and poultices here! Best in the country!
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Myth nods to the farmer and retrieves his dagger and bow...seeing the man from the alchemist shop, he thinks Oh well, so much for surprise...
He calls back, "Yes, we'll be there directly."
Turning to his companions, he says softly, "It'll be interesting to see their reaction to you, Thalia...we best be prepared for another fight..."
He turns to walk slowly towards the shop...
Meowing at the bite Struggler moves to his mistress, hoping for some conselation, and Eroil quickly wipps out her wand and heals her friend.