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Definitely! After my exams (last one is in exactly 2 weeks) I am much more free. :) If you're playing Traitor's Lodge... I might bring my level 3 Ranger along for the ride if that's the case. She's not GL, but she discovered the "traitor" during a playthrough of Siege of the Diamond City, so it would be really nice on an IC level to have her be assigned to deal with him.
"I can agree with what Skybek is saying," Saki murmurs, although her frown does not disappear. "He needs to have legal trial. I can only hope he will see sense in submitting himself to do so, and committing his troops to acquire a lesser sentence. But I refuse-- nay, I literally cannot break my oaths and lie on his behalf."
"I believe we should take this evidence to Captain Demrick," Saki interjects. Her brow is creased with frowns, and she seems to have been in long, quiet thought as conversation topics flew left and right around her. "I agree that Sander Bryton should be given the option to repent for his crimes; however, this does not mean he should escape scott-free from the corruption he has clearly played a part in!" "He needs to be taken to trial to face justice for his crimes. The public deserves to know the truth of what happened so that they may be vigilant in the future. Perhaps his sentence could be significantly reduced should he be willing to submit troops to the war efforts as a sign of good will. But I do not believe that a man who has already shown himself to be unscrupulous would just happily act as... 'a beacon of freedom and bravery'," Saki sighs heavily.
Saki steadfastly shakes her head at that suggestion from Frag. "I will not allow him to remain in power with this corruption hanging over his head. He will serve his time, and rightfully so, as is his due; we can only hope that he learns his lesson subsequently." "And if Bryton is truly innocent, he will be found as such, and his name will be clean henceforth." "The Andares name will remain bright, however," Saki adds with a smile to Thalia. "This brave girl will no doubt be well-known for her services to democracy. One's whole family is not tarnished by the guilt of one individual, after all."
Though hesitant to taste-test mysterious liquids that have also recently been sampled by half the party at this point, Saki decides to trust in Shelyn's grace (and, more importantly, the immunity to disease the Lady of Chrysanthemums granted her...) and give it a shot herself. Seems she's seen enough potions that she might know a thing or two about them!
Though wanting to help Skybek search for any evidence of corruption, she feels too awkward searching through the property of someone else (even if they were involved with illegal business) and is pretty useless at the task. Instead, Saki decides to focus her attentions on the still-conscious mercenary. She approaches him with a pleasant - but firm - smile. "Now that we can talk normally, perhaps you might tell me a little about yourself? What is your name, sir? And what do you know about Koriana?"
Saki immediately kneels down beside Koriana and checks her pulse and breathing, pushing a tiny sliver of holy energy into the alchemist's body to stop her from bleeding out on the floor. She does the same for the other mercenary, should he still be alive.
Once nobody seems like they are in immediate danger of dying, she turns her attentions to Trifle. A simple, bone-white wand decorated with tiny, colourful feathers on the end is retrieved from her belongings, and the rainbow energy that emerges from it quickly brings the tiefling back from the brink of death.
Saki gasps in horror as Trifle is nearly blown to smithereens before her eyes, but she grits her teeth and strides on up to the injured thug on the ground. "I will not harm someone who has wilfully offered surrender," she says, but her eyes are not looking at the man on the ground; rather, she is searching for the bomb-toting alchemist. "Move! I must stop this nonsense!" Though her words are cool, it is only considering the dire situation at hand. "Skybek, please do what you can to help her! I will handle Koriana!"
"Ah!" Saki cries out in pain as glittery particles suddenly wash over her vision; that was unexpected! "Mithradaties, please watch where you aim next time..." She slowly hobbles back towards Thalia, stumbling past Trifle and using the shelves as a guide. If she recalled... one of Koriana's men was last... here? Saki attempts a blind strike just as she finally manages to wipe the worst of the glitterdust from her eyes.
This woman was really getting on Saki's nerves with that smug, all-knowing attitude. She grits her teeth, conjures to mind a few choice lines of poetry of the solitude and peace of winter, and continues. "There is no honour in throwing one person to the wolves, no matter the supposed worth of doing so," the paladin says slowly. "I am duty-bound to protect this girl, and I will do so, no matter the cost. I have likewise sworn to defend the reigning principles of this fair country, which includes rooting out this kind of terrible corruption. I have faith that Andoran should not turn in upon herself as Galt has--" Saki shakes her head and mutters to herself, "as Minkai has, even." "Not removing this cancerous corruption is more likely to lead to the type of destabilisation you speak of. I have seen the effects of this first hand."
Needless to say, none of Koriana's suggestions fly particularly well with Saki, and she affixes the alchemist with an unimpressed glare. "You threaten to make a mockery of not only this proud nation's political system but also of the institution of marriage or religious groups... not only that, but you would take this girl away from everything she knows, all for the sake of personal gain. And you expect me to agree with this?" "The armies to the Worldwound be damned, I am more concerned that this kind of plot is occurring right under the nose of the People's Council!" Saki shakes her head in dismay. "Understand this, Koriana--the selfish and unjust will eventually be unravelled by their own web of lies and deceit. I strongly encourage you to come clean on this matter, not only for the sake of this city but for the sake of your own soul."
"I will not be handing her over to anyone," Saki says evenly, equally as firm to Korina as she is to her team-mates (although she presumed Trifle was merely a terrible liar about considering the option, she'd adventured with some truly horrible Pathfinders in the past). "You and those you work with are making a mockery of Andoran's democratic system, and she is doing a great civil service by exposing such corruption!"
"No, no tea," Saki says, striding forward with a roll of her eyes. "This farce has gone on for long enough." "Korina. We have some evidence connecting you with the kidnapping of Thalia Andares. As an ordained member of the Shelynite church, I must insist on you submitting yourself to my companions and I for further questioning on the matter."
Saki follows the others inside the apothecary, rightfully suspicious of the strange apprentice and his nervousness around Thalia. She pointedly positions herself in front of the young Andoran girl, keeping her glaive in one hand (albeit not aggressively so) should anything come to blows. Koriana... The paladin frowns, taking the opportunity to eye up the woman as much as Koriana is doing to the group.
Saki breathes a sigh of relief when the final wolf goes down, but as she listens to the farmer while cleaning the gore from her glaive's blade, she can't help but feel disturbed by the events in Sauerton. Political corruption, abandonment of one's own child, and a lack of protection for one's charges... She frowns darkly. This was not the country she had come to love. At that point, the apprentice arrives, and Saki immediately notices his apparent shock. Someone was certainly not expecting to see Thalia here... Stepping forward, she offers him a small smile and a nod of her head in greetings. "You frequently sell healing potions to those attacked by wolves, is it?" Saki asks pleasantly, her many years of practice allowing her to deftly hide the suspicion in her voice. "Perhaps you know something about these attacks, sir, having seen the aftermath so often?" "That said, I don't believe we require any potions at this juncture," she adds, keeping a careful watch on this apprentice for signs of discomfort or other suspicious behaviour.
Saki pushes back the wolf with the pole of her glaive, not appreciating the snarling fangs so close to her even if they had trouble penetrating her powerful armour. She's nevertheless surprised by the beast's tenacity and agility, resulting in a rather weak counter-attack, the curved blade of her weapon slicing through the empty air above the wolf's head.
"Sir, be calm! We will protect you!" Saki calls out, frowning as she looks upon the sudden appearance of wolves. Adjusting her grip on her glaive, she says over her shoulder to Thalia, "Stay back here behind us, Thalia. Be careful," before moving to engage the apparently rabid canines. With a flourish, Saki brings her glaive over her head and then straight down on the nearest wolf's flank.
Saki has been particularly silent since their initial meeting with the Galtan kidnappers, her expression morose. Thalia had come to the same conclusion she herself had--and that made her sadder than anything. Filial piety was supposed to be one of those bonds that would never break; of all the types of love they were, it was one of the strongest. The mother bear protecting her cub, or the look of wonder on a father's face upon seeing his newborn daughter... For it to be betrayed in this manner was an affront not only to the founding principles of Andoran--principles she herself had come to support in the best interests of people throughout the nation--but also a travesty in the eyes of her faith. And yet she was supposed to be enlisting the support of this corrupt man's armies...? Saki sighs heavily, massaging her temple. Sometimes I wonder why I joined the Society... "We should seek out this Koriana woman," Saki says with a nod to Thalia. "But... we can't let it be known that we have found Thalia. As soon as the nobles involved in this nonsense realise we've rescued her, I'm sure they will set in motion more corrupt forces against us." She turns to the young noblewoman with a gentle smile, "Thalia, is there anyone you trust to keep your presence a secret until we get to the bottom of this? Perhaps Captain Demrick?"
Saki steps forward at this point, offering a humble bow to the Galtan revolutionary and his compatriots. "Yes, it is my intention as a follower of the peaceful Lady Shelyn to avoid bloodshed where possible, but when our approach was met by arrows you must understand that we moved to defend ourselves." She smiles apologetically, making sure that the holy symbol engraved on her armour is clearly visible. "But as my friend here says, I would be happy to heal your wounded if we can come to an understanding here." "If religion is not enough to convince you of my credentials, I can also confirm that I have assisted in the freedom efforts of the Nirmathi army, and have long been a faithful ally of the Andoran nation. You can trust in my dedication to the abolishment of systems that oppress the weak, I assure you." "Alas," Saki adds with a light sigh. "I suspect you may have been unwittingly wrapped up in a corruption scandal yourselves. The girl here may be merely a pawn in the game of some lord trying to return to the days of noble titles and hereditary rule."
"Please try not to kill them," Saki sighs heavily, seeing the subject of Frag's near-decapitation stumble backwards into the protection of the half-destroyed building. "We need information--and more importantly, they should be punished by the law, not by the blade!" Saki levels her glaive at the nearest, polearm reaching over the corner of the pit. "Lay down your weapons and you will not suffer more harm," she says, though knowing in her heart that brash revolutionaries like these would be unlikely to listen to her. Assuming he doesn't immediately surrender, Saki thrusts forward with a strike that is a touch too powerful for its own good--a clumsy and easily-deflected attack.
"Pit?" Saki replies confusedly, but she trusts in Ober's words. Taking up a defensive stance, she carefully proceeds forward, using the tip of her glaive to prod the earth ahead of her and waiting for someone to warn her of where the trap is. The arrow had barely grazed her, and she ignores the scratching pain for now.
Saki nods to both Ober and Trifle, agreeing with both their words. "Let us focus now on the safe rescue of Thalia, and thereafter on what to do with the perpetrators of the crime. And the matter of this corruption... well, one thing at a time." She patiently awaits Frag's scanning of the area, frowning up at the dark and foreboding manor. "No wonder the townsfolk think it haunted," Saki murmurs quietly. She takes up her glaive, wary for potential danger.
Saki thanks Dorabeth once more for the hospitality before following Demrick outside. She vaguely notes the papers Mithradities and Skybek recovered, but decides to let the others deal with them for now. "If I recall correctly," Saki begins, thoughtfully stroking her chin as she thinks about Telfyrn had told them, "our wizard said that Thalia was being held in an old-style building whose design was popular in Andoran before the People's Revolt: high ceilings and elegant adornments, that sort of thing. It seems to have sustained extensive fire damage that has not been repaired. Seems like that should really narrow down our options, don't you think?" When Skybek summarises what the notes are about, Saki's expression darkens. Unbidden memories of the rather sour experiences she had at the marriage of the Blakros daughter spring to mind, and she yet again grows bitter at how politics would corrupt otherwise pure love and family life. "An unsurprising revelation, in some senses," she sighs. "Though I hate to admit it, that may explain why Tercio Andares is so hesitant to investigate the issue." "I see three possibilities here." "Perhaps the kidnappers found out about Thalia's investigations and are threatening to let the secret out should Tercio not succumb to their demands. In this case, the kidnappers are a third party wanting monetary rewards--or perhaps wanting an opportunity to join this 'dynasty' for themselves." "Secondly... perhaps the kidnappers are of one of the corrupt families, who found out about Thalia's investigations. They threaten Thalia and Tercio should the secret come out, which would incriminate all of them." "Lastly..." Saki hesitates before continuing, "perhaps this is something set up by Tercio himself. If he learned of Thalia's investigations, and feared that, if the secret came out, his own seat of power would be affected... and so, perhaps he..." She trails off, not daring to continue the rather slanderous train of thought.
Saki offers Dorabeth a thankful smile and bob of her head. "A kind offer to be sure. I will pass on the offer--it would not be right for me to disobey the laws of Consul Andares' house--but I will not protest if others wish to take up this offer." "Captain," she says, instead turning to the halfling, "have we described to you the house the Society's scryer saw? Perhaps you may know more about it?"
Saki silently listens to the barrage of information coming in left and right with a pleasant expression, pausing only to take another small nibble of the delicious danish or nod along in acquiescence to one point or another. Finally, when Andares seems to become increasingly stubborn to the point of impossibility, she places her empty plate gently on a sitting table and offers her own thoughts on the matter. "Consul, I truly understand your concern for your daughter, and that you don't want to put her into any more danger; the display of filial love here is outstanding. As my companion Ober here says though, we are here to help, and we may be able to assist in indirect ways that will not alert the kidnappers to our presence here." "We may have a lead on Thalia's whereabouts, if we have permission to act on them. All it would take is a few questions--perhaps even just to the Captain here, and Miss Dorabeth." She smiles gently. "Also, sir, I hesitate to press further, but you seem to be taking this letter quite seriously. There's no way for the kidnappers to be sure investigators are receiving your aid in particular; for all they know, we could just be upstanding citizens doing a heroic duty for the city..." "Or is there something else you'd like to tell us, Consul?"
Saki arches a brow at Dorabeth's... 'theory', immediately discarding it as complete nonsense. Why would the elves of Kyonin--a goodly people, by all accounts--kidnap the daughter of a vintner and mayor of Andoran? And 'twisted forest gods'? That was the first she'd heard of that kind of description of the Elven pantheon... "Ma'am," she smiles at Dorabeth while taking a small nibble of one of the danishes, "why would you accuse the elves so? Have there been tensions between the Andares' and Kyonin?"
Saki offers the housekeeper a warm smile and a polite nod. "Good morning, ma'am! My name is Saki Kanazawa, and my companions and I are here from the Pathfinders." She gestures back at the rest of the motley crew hanging back chatting with the Captain. "Consul Andares should be expecting us, I believe. May we come in?"
"Oh," Saki murmurs to herself with some surprise upon being told of the history of Sauerton, "I always thought that line went 'down from a sour tonne'... silly me, I always wondered why it never made much sense!"
---------- Saki nods politely to the captain, introducing herself as a Pathfinder and Shelynite paladin to him as they walk through the town. She enjoys the brief tour of the local area, plying the halfling with various questions about architectural styles of old Andoran and the history of any statues and fountains they pass by. When they arrive, she admires the mansion's opulence for a few moments before turning back to their guide. "Thank you kindly for the escort, Captain," she smiles at Demrick, "I hope we can sort this business out quick-smart! Have a nice day - let's hope this weather clears up soon." Saki then heads on up to the mansion itself and lightly raps on the door.
"Trifle," Saki says cheerfully, apparently unoffended by the snark, "while I would prefer to avoid combat altogether, there are times when a rose is insufficient, and that is when I suppose you shall see that dances are not merely something done for show." "As for the drinking songs, Skybek... ah, I know a few, off the record of course. But I can't drink too much—my cheeks get all ruddy after just one glass of wine!" -------
Upon entering the Cathedral, Saki is immediately distracted by the stained glass windows, and spends some time gazing at them before she finally forces her attentions back to her superior officers. She bows to the two of them politely, particularly Major Colson Maldris. The Tian-Min woman listens in silence to Brackett's words, nodding along as the brash Venture-Captain speaks. A terrible turn of events, a kidnapping; but thank the Gods that Thalia Andares was still alive and well. And then, of course, Ober opens his mouth, and Saki sighs as the rest dissolve into petty arguments. She lightly massages her temple; ah, this was always the case, was it not... it was the rare mission where Pathfinders did not clash on one level or another. "Alas, I have spent precious little time in Taldor, Ober, but I have experienced first-hand the pain that comes with royalty and succession back in my homeland of Minkai," Saki says evenly, clear that she's struggling to take a middle-line approach here. "The democracy-style government of Andoran is a fresh approach that avoids much of the kind of corruption and instability that forced my family to flee the nation. Now, I am sure that Taldor's nobility is by no means like the Jade Regent, but... there is definite benefit in allowing the citizenry to have their way." "Andoran has been nothing but accommodating to new arrivals such as myself and my family, and I am sure even you will find things to like about the country before you leave it, even if you are not a fan of our democracy." She offers him an encouraging smile. Saki has a read through the letter before glancing to Maldris and nodding. "I have no more questions for you, sir," she says to Brackett with a nod. "It appears we must simply ask around when we arrive to get to the bottom of the mystery."
Saki takes quite a while to respond to Skybek, obviously struggling to piece together what the strongly-accented dwarf is saying. No matter her proficiency in Taldane, it's still difficult for a non-native speaker to parse that accent! "Well, perhaps a little bit of Cayden Cailean--everything in moderation, after all," she smiles bemusedly. The Lucky Drunk bore much in common with her homeland's deity, Sun Wukong--a trickster and good-for-nothing scoundrel. However, Saki got the impression that Cayden was slightly less grating than the Monkey God; at least hers and Skybek's faiths could find common ground in liberating the oppressed, after all. "I'm not much of a singer," Saki admits a little sadly, "but I can dance..." Taking a few steps back for safety reasons, the paladin inhales deeply, shifting into a unique battle stance that allows her surprising range of movement despite the heavy armour she wears. Focusing on some imaginary target, Saki then begins to move through a dance with her glaive, a performance that is much art as it is martial training. The maneuvers combine spinning, defensive moves with the pole of her weapon as well as strikes with both blade and fist. When she completes the brief introduction of her skills, Saki turns back to Skybek and bows. "I also enjoy the study of poetry--although perhaps not of the sort you are used to," the Tian-Min woman pauses a moment in thought, before reciting the translated verses of one that popped into mind: "On those summer nights
"I suppose poetry is similar to songs," she admits afterwards with a thoughtful nod. "And I can certainly get behind merriment, particularly with musical accompaniment!"
Some time after the other Pathfinders arrive in Andoran, another of their ranks joins them shortly before the briefing is scheduled. The new addition is a short but trim and physically fit Tian-Min woman with long, dark hair and sapphire blue eyes. Her hair is tied up with a red ribbon in a loose ponytail, and she wears a silver chrysanthemum-shaped hair ornament just above her left ear. She is currently wearing a very well made suit of plate armor, with stylised wing-like greaves and a body plate engraved with a pair of songbirds and cherry blossoms, and holds a black glaive decorated with beadwork and engravings in what appears to be some kind of Tian script. "Good morning all," she says with a moderate bow and a dimpled smile; her voice is noticeably accented, but still quite understandable. "My name is Saki Kanazawa, humble servant of the Lady of Chrysanthemums, Shelyn." "My apologies for not arriving sooner; I've been spending time with my parents here in Almas while I can. Oh, it's wonderful to be back home again...!" The paladin sighs in happiness.
Hi there, this is Alice and her paladin! The module Saki was in just finished today, so I should be good to play if you'll still have me! (Chronicle should be on its way soon - Saki will be level 5 after it.) I will need to catch up with everything that I've missed thus far though. As a paladin of Shelyn, shockingly enough Saki is not much of a damage dealer... :) (She also suffers from some poor mechanical choices being my first PFS character, haha.) She uses a glaive, so not the most ideal for the frontline, but can manage it fine enough; she's also pretty tanky!
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