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If anyone hasn't yet personalized your chronicle and would feel more comfortable if I did it, I'd be happy to do so. Please let me know. If anyone has any concerns, I'm happy to discuss further in private.
I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about... they're totally crossed out. ;)
Chronicle is here. Garif claims that you're all going to consider me a lazy DM, but I think I'll survive. After all, I made homemade kimchi today. So there.
I don't think the reporting system likes me...
And Phinellippa's PFS number, please!
Bryton chuckles. "Are all Pathfinders as suspicious as you lot?" he asks, though his expression sobers quickly. "I suppose you've reason to be," he admits. He takes a few moments to look over another document, then answers the group's question. "I'll keep them safe, and disclose what's necessary to protect Thalia. Some of this is rather... volatile, and could cause trouble for a lot of people if it became public." Looking around at the group, he concludes, "I'm glad you found Thalia. I'll do what I can for your Worldwound crusade, and I'll speak to the local authorities regarding Tercio. Miss Andares, you would be welcome to remain my guest until this is sorted out, if you wish." Thalia smiles back at him and nods, accepting his gracious offer with a few quiet words of thanks. *** The next morning, Thalia asks the group to accompany her to the sheriff's office to formally report her father's actions and await his arrest. Demrick is happy to comply after he hears the group's account of their findings. The trial drags on for months (the Pathfinders, fortunately for them, are released from witness duty much sooner), and eventually Tercio Andares is found guilty of betraying his oath of office and Common Rule, and is stripped of property and position. Thalia is permitted to retain much of the family's property, and sends a significant portion of her new-found fortune as a donation of thanks to the Pathfinder Society. Sander Bryton is true to his word, as becomes apparent when a large detachment of Eagle Knights shows up on the Society's doorstep and offers their aid in Mendev.
Bryton considers the group's words, then reaches out and takes the papers Iovo offers. "You understand that I can make no promises," he begins, as he sorts through the documents, scanning them quickly. After a few minutes he looks up at the group. "You are entrusting these documents to my care?" he asks, seemingly on the verge of a decision.
Bryton's eyebrow initially raises skeptically, but as Iovo continues (and Thalia joins in) he shakes his head in amazement. "I never would have believed him capable of it," he replies thoughtfully, "But it would explain his rejection of my offer to send the Knights to search." Bryton rubs his chin thoughtfully, then shakes his head again. "There's one thing I still don't understand," he begins, studying each member of the group in turn. "Why come to me with this?" Iovo: He does not seem to have had any part in the kidnapping of Thalia.
"Certainly!" replies Thalia with a smile. The group finds Bryton in the large manor house he uses when visiting Sauerton. The servant who answers the door ushers the Pathfinders (and Thalia) into a sitting room and takes his leave. A few minutes later, Bryton enters the room. "Good afternoon," he offers in greeting, before his eyes fall on Thalia. His face lights up in a wide smile. "Thalia! You're safe! I'm sure your father is very relieved!" He turns his smile on the Pathfinders. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? I'm sure you didn't come here just to ease my mind over Miss Andares."
Thalia bites her lip thoughtfully. "Trust is a big word," she replies. "I'm not sure if I'd trust him to run for office honestly, but if he says he'll do something, he does it."
Demrick's name is certainly not mentioned in any of the papers. When Damiar invites Thalia to participate in the discussion, the young woman frowns thoughtfully. "Good values? No, probably not, but did I hear you say that Consul Bryton is implicated in those papers? He does have significant influence over the disposition of the Eagle Knights, even if he is suspect..."
After only a few more glances around the back room, Iovo spots a few faint scuff marks on the edge of one of the boards, just underneath where she found the rope earlier. Finding no poisons or other nasty surprises on the board, she pries it up and extracts a small box secured with a simple lock. Within the box is a significant collection of documents providing 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.
Iovo finds a coil of rope on a work table in the back room.
As the party unleashes its true fury , the two men's eyes widen in surprise as they are battered, bruised, clawed, and arrowed. Right before Iovo fires her bow, the older-looking of the two throws down his sword and yells, "Stop! Stop, okay? Don't kill us!" Barnabas flails his head up and down at Iovo so hard you think his head might fall off, and keeps his hands visible. He licks his lips nervously, and seems to miss her second question.
The two men nod at each other, apparently heartened by the party's inability to harm them. A moment later, they retaliate, focusing on the dangerous fist-fighter! The elf twins simultaneously release their arrows, but both fly wide, thudding into the back wall.
Koriana does not stir. Barnabas, meanwhile, shakes his head at the continued fighting and raises his hands slightly, as if to say, don't hurt me, please!
Nico's jaws find only air, and Phinellippa's ray suffers the same fate.
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.
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."
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. Sense Motive DC14:
Barnabas seems terrified.
Do we have a Verrix? I'm on the road, but arriving tomorrow and should be able to post then. Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are planning for a happy New Year!
Sekrit Dice:
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.
Sounds great. Incidentally, in case anyone hadn't noticed, I was not in fact able to post last night. I'm hopeful about tomorrow morning, now that we're no longer on the road.
On the road today, but should be able to post tonight.
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. Init:
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!" Iovo:
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 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.
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?"
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."
"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?"
"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?"
Damiar:
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?"
Thunderclouds pass across Koriana's face... and leave it relatively untouched a few moments later, though her expression is without doubt even more wary than before. "I see," she replies, pausing for a few seconds of quiet contemplation. "Perhaps we should discuss this matter in my sitting room; would you care for tea?"
Pleased at the thought of finally doing some business with the foreigners, Koriana offers Kleines a discount on her regular price for the items he requests. Her good fortune does not last, however, and she turns back to the gnome with an ill-concealed sigh. "Fine. Busy," she replies. "Don't you all have somewhere else to be? Poking about a tavern or vineyard or some other local attraction?"
Koriana lets the barest hint of a long-suffering sigh escape her lips. It's not likely I'd be able to explain it to you, her expression seems to say. Marshaling her inner resources, however, she cracks a slight smile and points it toward the rough vicinity of Garif and Iovo. "Better components," she replies in a low voice. Seemingly forgetting to maintain the smile, she turns to the rest of the group with a sober—though not hostile—expression. "Now then, are you here to shop or just lollygaggin' around?"
Her eyes turn to Verrix as she considers his words. "Well, I wouldn't say they're rare, exactly, but this one's higher quality than most." She nods knowingly. "You should see what some of the locals would try to pass off as 'healing'!" Sense Motive DC14:
Koriana shakes her head as she turns to pore over her potion collection for the right vial. "I've never run into any trouble with dogs around here," she replies. Selecting a small pyramidal vial containing puce liquid, she displays it to the group. "The finest in bottled healing, right here for only sixty gold."
Damiar or Sense Motive DC20:
"Koriana," replies the middle-aged woman with a nod, ignoring the proffered hand. "Now then, what sort of healing are you needing?"
The inside of the shop is spacious and lined with rack upon wooden rack of exotic herbs, spices, tonics, smoking paraphernalia, and a smattering of glass vials of brightly colored liquids. More such vials stand in display inside a glass-fronted countertop. Strange and smoky odors waft from a back room past a mostly closed door. Barnabas moves quietly to a door on the back wall, knocks, and peeks his head inside. A few moments later, he steps into the back room, and a few seconds after that, a middle-aged half-elf with platinum blond hair comes out. Taking a few seconds to size up the party, she wipes her hands on her apron and nods in a businesslike fashion. "Barnabas said you were needin' healing potions?" she asks, glancing over the party as if to determine who is injured.
"Nice and quiet out here," replies the young man to Iovo's query. He laughs merrily at Kleines, shaking his head. "Who, me? Naw, not yet anyhow. I'm just a 'prentice. Barnabas's the name." The old man sticks out his lips and turns to his cow, examining her for a long minute. Finally, he shakes his head at Damiar. "I don' reckon we were," he replies, patting the cow on its head. "Sposin' we better get back home, me an' the Guardian here. Thankin' ye kindly fer yer halp." Barnabas watches the man and his bovine companion trudge away, then smiles at the group. "Woncha come in?"
Iovo's arrow sails a bit high, but between Damiar and Nico, the ravenous curs are slain. The old man shuffles over to the group, smiling and bobbing his head gratefully. "Thankin' ye kindly," he offers in a thin voice with a bit of a whistle due to multiple missing teeth. "Ain't been the same 'round here ever since that mayor was 'lected, I tell ya. Guards don't guard no more; too busy paradin' around an' doin' favors for that new mayor's 'friends' t'do their jobs." As he falls silent, a young man emerges from the building on the south-east corner. His eyes widen at the sight that greets him, but he recovers quickly and waves a friendly greeting. "Hallo there!" he calls, walking over to the group with the long, confident stride of youth. Glancing around, he grins and quips, "Looks like you've brought us some business! We sell healing potions, you know." Sense Motive DC14: The youth seems particularly surprised to see Thalia.
Thanks for the update, Verrix. Try not to inhale water! In case it helps, you should know that most of those new posts are one-liners and clarifications. :)
Kleines and Phinellippa finish off two of the foamy-mouthed dogs.
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