Matrialda |
Matrialda follows her more energetic companions, their newest responsibility in tow. ”Do be careful, Clotho!” she calls out as she watches for more dogs.
Move to get within 30 ft of farmer, Standard to Total Defense.
GM Ietsuna |
You could Lotho, but they all are dead.
Combat over
The farmer and his cow have minor scratches and bruises but are mostly unharmed.
Lotho Proudheart |
Lotho peers around, looking for any other potential threat. "Are wild dogs common in this area?"
GM Ietsuna |
There appears to be foam around the dogs mouths. They were most probably rabid.
The farmer waves off your offers of healing. I'll just go home and have a nice cup of tea and be fine in the morning. You know, ever since Tercio became mayor the town guard has been more concerned with planning parades and doing favors for friends than keeping down the populations of wild dog and wolves.
At this Thalia pipes up One of my philosophy texts says how dangerous it can be for a leader to focus on politics over the needs of the people.
You resume your journey and the farmer his and soon you reach Deadeye Cross, where the alchemist shop is located. Not long after you arrive a young lad emerges and begins shouting about healing potions for sale. Turning in your direction he starts for a second seemingly focused on Thalia before swiftly covering his expression.
Lotho Proudheart |
Lotho heads toward the alchemist shop. "Hello there. I am Lotho Proudheart of the Rubyblossom Proudhearts, Champion of the Battle of Fallowleaf Field." He folds his arms, narrowing his eyes. "I think we need to talk to you, sir."
Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Here's hoping he has a low hit dice and/or bad wisdom.
GM Ietsuna |
The young man stammers Ye, ye, yes sir. How can I he, he, help?
Lotho Proudheart |
Does he have brown hair? Can I tell if he is Taldan?
"You Koriana? We have some ... matters to discuss."
GM Ietsuna |
The young man is a local. His hair is brown.
Krystiana |
"Just some questions about correspondence with Consul Andares," Krystiana states.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Readied action to chase... but my roll probably doesn't help me much with that.
Mallycorn Tavee |
Sense Motive, untrained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Please, I'm sure we can all discuss peacefully, politely and honestly. If you have done no wrong, there is no reason to panic, even when strangers strongly armed stop you in the street and start to ask you questions.
Mallycorn offers a gentle, amused and genuine smile at the young man
Matrialda |
”Don’t be silly, young man,” Matrialda adds with grandmotherly concern. ”If we weren’t here to talk, we’d have spoken with the sheriff and had her accompany us. Now, would you like a cookie?” She offers one to any of her companions who might look underfed as well (which is all of them).
Diplomacy to Aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Lotho Proudheart |
Lotho is a half-orc raised by halflings, so he certainly does not look underfed ... but that also means turning down a cookie would be a violation of his family values. He takes a cookie.
"I asked" ... chew, chew, chew ... holds up a finger ... "I asked if you were Koriana."
GM Ietsuna |
No sir. My name is Barnabas. Barnabas Ogan. I am an apprentice to Mistress Koriana. the young man says around a mouthful of cookie, crumbs falling from his mouth.
Lotho Proudheart |
Lotho nods, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder and guiding him toward the alchemist shop door. "Great. Now, if you could just tell us what you know about Mistress Koriana and this young lady here ..."
GM Ietsuna |
Ummm. I was just surprised to see her. He takes a moment and appears to gather his thoughts. Please come inside the shop and I can get Mistress Koriana for you.
GM Ietsuna |
The young man seems nothing but truthful.
He enters the shop, with you all behind him. There is no-one inside, but he heads straight for a door behind the counter and knocks on it. After about 15 seconds the door opens and a woman emerges. She looks you over before speaking. What remedy or tonic might I be able to assist you with today?
Fentar Palomine |
Fentar's ophidian smile reappears for a fleeting moment, "We thought you might be able to help us identify some stains and residues on a note."
The nagaji reaches inside his vest for the note but does not withdraw it yet, "Is that something you could do?"
GM Ietsuna |
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. I can offer tea or other refreshements.
Mallycorn Tavee |
Bluff: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
To Lotho
Maybe it's all about the cookie crumbs? They were eaten quite savagely...
says Mallycorn, as deadpan as a Pharasman priest can be.
With an honest smile, he turns to the shop owner
We would glady enjoy some tea. There might even be some cookies left, who knows? As a member of the cloth, serving Pharasma, I heal injuries, by magic or mundane means,or bury corpses when they are past healing, and sometimes my church get a small sum of money, or a deed, from that. Neither of us could be accused of "profiting"from injuries, from the pain and suffering of another. We just offer a service to those who needs it, and aren't willing to stay in bed for a serious lenght of time, letting nature get its course. I assure you we would be as happy as you just talking about this troublesome affair. There is no need to resort to violence, surely.
Diplo: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
GM Ietsuna |
Please be seated at the table over there. Barnabas, please set the kettle to boiling and make us tea.
Koriana joins you at the table once she has set Barnabas to his task. 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?
Fentar Palomine |
Fentar scowls, ”The Society does not play games with the lives of younglings.”
”We sought to enhance our reputation and contacts by doing some good.”
”What do you hope to achieve.”
The more this scheming a+$+#$@ talks, the more I want to smash it into pieces.
Matrialda |
”Oh thank you dear - these old bones could use a rest.” Matrialda sits gratefully at the table, beckoning for the un-kidnapped Lady Andares to sit beside her. ”Now then, Mister Andares might not have sent us to look for his daughter, but she is here now and safe as we can make her. The young man holding her captive had a note on his person discussing where and when to meet his employer - a gentleman of Taldan descent with brown hair. Hardly descriptive enough. Half my grandchildren have brown hair! But the note had some rather curious stains and smells left on it - stains and smells of an alchemical nature. As the only shop in town to deal with such things, we were hoping you might be able to help us find out more about why this poor child was kidnapped and held for ransom in the first place.”
GM Ietsuna |
If only there were some way for a female person to, i don't know, drink a potion of an alchemical nature and appear male and Taldan and have brown hair :P
Lotho Proudheart |
Lotho lets the others drink and question the alchemist. He does not drink the offered tea, but instead begins looking around the shop for any potential threats or other things of interest.
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Matrialda |
If only there were some way for a female person to, i don't know, drink a potion of an alchemical nature and appear male and Taldan and have brown hair :P
Quite - but Matrialda would want to at least give the proprietor a chance to offer an alternative explanation before bringing up such a scandalous hypothesis. It’s the polite thing to do.
GM Ietsuna |
Ok, I suspect you know more than you are letting on here. I am not a stupid woman. Let's get down to business. If you surrender Thalia there, I can convince Tercio to use his financial resources to back the Pathfinders’ mission in Mendev.
Matrialda |
Matrialda shakes her head and tuts disapprovingly. ”Young lady, we just finished retrieving her from your ‘care’. If you have an issue with Tercio, take it up with him and not his daughter.” She frowns, peering suspiciously at the alchemist. ”Why so interested in Tercio in the first place?”
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Mallycorn Tavee |
We have the young lady well being and best interests at heart. Why would we give her to you, to be used once again as a tool, as a pawn,in a struggle for power and influence? Why should she be caught between you and Tercio? What is your purpose, your goal?
Sense motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
GM Ietsuna |
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 counters with an offer of her own. I could provide the financial backing were my father convicted of corruption. The more I see the more he seems an unjust tyrant in sheep’s clothing. Even if it were to cost me my life, it is a price I am willing to pay that price in the name of liberty and justice.
Lotho Proudheart |
Lotho shakes his head at Koriana. "Forgive us if we don't find you particularly credible ..."
He turns to Thalia. "If there is evidence of corruption, I would help you uncover it. Do you know of such evidence?"
Matrialda |
Matrialda folds her arms. ”I believe the Lady Andares has spoken,” she states simply, letting her use of Thalia’s title imply her agreement to the noble woman’s proposal.
Krystiana |
Krystiana finally speaks up, "I'm big on liberty and justice. However, recompense to either the community or individual should be paid for the original kidnapping itself. Taking someone into bondage outside of the law is not and should not be permitted regardless the cause. However, that presumes that Lady Andares here still would want some sort of recompense."
GM Ietsuna |
Thalia speaks up again. Yes! I have proof that my father orchestrated my kidnapping and when 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.
would see Tercio’s property confiscated by the state then a decision made on how to apportion it.
Koriana counters Should you decide to support Thalia you will risk the stability of the entire region, triggering a veritable witch hunt for corrupt politicians that would harm innocent leaders. In fact, convicting Tercio could indirectly put the entire world at risk.
Matrialda |
Matrialda arches an eyebrow. ”My, the whole world you say? I can see someone certainly thinks highly of himself.” She shakes her head before continuing, ”But this is not the mob justice of Galt, dear. Thalia can present her evidence to the courts, and all parties will accept their decision. And if this inspires other regions to examine their own nobles’ actions, all the better. Only those with something to hide have reason to fear.”
Knowledge (local) vs DC 15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
The matriarch turns to Thalia. ”And dear, you do know that’s not quite how the court system works here, yes? The state would confiscate the estate and all its holdings during the investigation and trial, which means you would have to wait for their decision and risk the possibility of never receiving the title and estate back. Do you trust your evidence that much?”
Lotho Proudheart |
Lotho shakes his head, waving his hands in confusion in front of him. "Whoah, whoah ... Hold up. Your father orchestrated the kidnapping?" He looks at Koriana. "So you're working with her father ..." He glances back and forth between them, then rests on Thalia. "What would he gain from such a horrible act?"
GM Ietsuna |
Thalia has a conscience and objects to how her father runs things. She reads revolutionary texts and has clear views on how the place should work. Given the proximity to the world wound the stability of this region is very important to the stability of the whole world. If things go bad here it could very easily ruin everything everywhere.
Fentar Palomine |
"He's not doing a great job of running things at the moment, just ask that farmer, and anyone who can't properly organise the disappearance of a child should not be relied upon to maintain the stability of a region. And you," Fentar sniffes the air as he eyeballs the alchemist, "We would have to trust you, someone proven to be untrustworthy."
Fentar Palomine |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I think it's pretty clear we are going to side with Thalia. Pragmatically, she's lower risk and, emotionally, we have two paladins in our party and other characters admire her. The pay off might take longer, but reliability is what we are going for.
So, who thinks we should wring a written confession out of the alchemist?