When it was clear he was helpless the ever-cautious Thrayne Davis, Marshall of the forces of Heneselt and right hand to king Turisas, entered the room triumphantly. He strode forth from the darkness into the soft morning light that illuminated Jack's misfortune and reached into the rogues pocket, retrieving a small square coin made of copper.
The noble held the copper in the air as a sign of his success, and then ordered his men to carry his prey away.
....
Kefka felt his body warming as the sun's fresh rays warmed his small cottage. He wasted little time in arriving at his job at the local tavern, for today was an important day. Brewmasters from Arcanus were nearing the completion of the tavern's yearly batch of ale. Kefka had been put in charge of the tavern during it's owner's illness, which was pressure enough any time. But at a time like this, when something going wrong could cause the inn the fall into deep dept, and thus it's owner forced into indenturement, the pressure was even greater.
But on his way to he was intercepted by a subordinate employee who asked him to visit the inn's owner, Barnabus. Barnabus knew the young man was a sorcerer, and so asked him to answer the call for adventurers made by the Lord of Flotsam, Count Martin Clais. Kefka obeyed his mentor and left the inn in the hands of his peers and prepared for a meeting with the Count regarding kidnappings which had apparently occured the night before.
But on his way to he was intercepted by a subordinate employee who asked him to visit the inn's owner, Barnabus. Barnabus knew the young man was a sorcerer, and so asked him to answer the call for adventurers made by the Lord of Flotsam, Count Martin Clais. Kefka obeyed his mentor and left the inn in the hands of his peers and prepared for a meeting with the Count regarding kidnappings which had apparently occured the night before.
.....
Count Clais was not a generous man. He taxed his subjects into poverty, cheated the draft, extorted his merchants, forced passers-by to pay illegal tolls, and barely funded social programs. More than anything this was what he was known for, but the general population thought they saw another side of him whenever monsters of the local gang of wood-elves, the Rosewoods, threatened the town.
However this was not a result of his concern. Rather, the liberal rewards offered in return for monster or bounty hunting was rarely composed in majority of his money. In fact, the reward was usually a result of the local Paladin whom he had a hired a year earlier.
Leliana, Paladin of Dibella, often volunteered a great deal of her own pay in order to attract help. The previous night's kidnapping of two local children, presumably by the Rosewoods, was no exception to this.
So it was no surprise when someone responded to their call. Leliana accompanied Count Martin Clais and his Watch Captain Aaron Donevill to the meeting with the adventurer, who turned out to be an innkeeper named Kefka. During the meeting Donevill seemed insistant that the Rosewoods were behind the kidnapping, and resisted any conversation which implicated anyone else.
However this was not a result of his concern. Rather, the liberal rewards offered in return for monster or bounty hunting was rarely composed in majority of his money. In fact, the reward was usually a result of the local Paladin whom he had a hired a year earlier.
Leliana, Paladin of Dibella, often volunteered a great deal of her own pay in order to attract help. The previous night's kidnapping of two local children, presumably by the Rosewoods, was no exception to this.
....
So it was no surprise when someone responded to their call. Leliana accompanied Count Martin Clais and his Watch Captain Aaron Donevill to the meeting with the adventurer, who turned out to be an innkeeper named Kefka. During the meeting Donevill seemed insistant that the Rosewoods were behind the kidnapping, and resisted any conversation which implicated anyone else.
Kefka and Leliana both suspected the guard might be involved with, or at least intentionally ignorant of, the kidnappings.
The home that the children were abducted from was very near to the west gate of the city, adding to the pair's suspicions due to the amount of guards that patrol the area. They first questioned the parents. Their mother remembered seeing an elf wearing the red bandanna of a Rosewood standing in the children's room after the children were already missing, but she could not understand how the elf got out after she ran to other room, which contained the only door.
Kefka inspected the house carefully and uncovered a hole carved into the floor and a few feet into the earth underneath. A passage had been clearly dug into the hole, but recently covered up.
The two decided to head to the guard house to see if the guardsman who responded to the disturbance knew any pertinent details.
On the way, however, they were approached by a destitute young woman who begged for money to help her buy medicine for her sick husband. Leliana offered what she could spare, but the beggar demanded more. Kefka did not wish to endure this and so shooed the woman away, which upset her husband who stood up and accosted the group. Clearly the woman was lying, but the appearance to the crowd now surrounding the kerfuffle was that of two relatively wealthy individuals demeaning poor commoners. The crowd attacked the pair, but Leliana invoked her powers as a town official to arrest the ringleaders, and she carried them away to the guard house.
Leliana was a very strange paladin. First of all she carried no commission from the Hearth of Vesta and was completely unordained. The townsfolk were evenly divided in their opinion of her. On one hand she was kind to the poor, protected the town well, and was very strong of personality. On the other, she often quarreled with the local priest (which eventually lead to her no longer attending Sunday services), and occasionally taught principles that seemed to violate certain church traditions.
But there was one segment of the local populace that was dead set against her - the guard. Leliana had very little tolerance for corruption, of which there was plenty in Flotsam. Moreover, her manner of opposition to this corruption was loud and apparent, and she made it hard for a guardsman to hide behind the veil of their position.
So when the pair arrived at the guardhouse their prisoners were taken eagerly, but their questions were met with scorn and noncooperation. Unpleasant words were thrown about before the sorcerer and paladin gave up on the endeavor and decided to collect their thoughts at the tavern.
Fortunately they were intercepted by a pair of hunters who reported seeing a group of Rosewoods carrying children off to a hideout of theirs. The hunters demanded compensation for ending their expedition, but the pair, and especially Kefka, were in no mood to be giving money to anyone after the day's near-riot, and so they were directed to Count Clais' estate, where they likely got a rather cold reception.
Night was falling so the two decided to rest and set out in the early morning.
The home that the children were abducted from was very near to the west gate of the city, adding to the pair's suspicions due to the amount of guards that patrol the area. They first questioned the parents. Their mother remembered seeing an elf wearing the red bandanna of a Rosewood standing in the children's room after the children were already missing, but she could not understand how the elf got out after she ran to other room, which contained the only door.
Kefka inspected the house carefully and uncovered a hole carved into the floor and a few feet into the earth underneath. A passage had been clearly dug into the hole, but recently covered up.
The two decided to head to the guard house to see if the guardsman who responded to the disturbance knew any pertinent details.
On the way, however, they were approached by a destitute young woman who begged for money to help her buy medicine for her sick husband. Leliana offered what she could spare, but the beggar demanded more. Kefka did not wish to endure this and so shooed the woman away, which upset her husband who stood up and accosted the group. Clearly the woman was lying, but the appearance to the crowd now surrounding the kerfuffle was that of two relatively wealthy individuals demeaning poor commoners. The crowd attacked the pair, but Leliana invoked her powers as a town official to arrest the ringleaders, and she carried them away to the guard house.
....
Leliana was a very strange paladin. First of all she carried no commission from the Hearth of Vesta and was completely unordained. The townsfolk were evenly divided in their opinion of her. On one hand she was kind to the poor, protected the town well, and was very strong of personality. On the other, she often quarreled with the local priest (which eventually lead to her no longer attending Sunday services), and occasionally taught principles that seemed to violate certain church traditions.
But there was one segment of the local populace that was dead set against her - the guard. Leliana had very little tolerance for corruption, of which there was plenty in Flotsam. Moreover, her manner of opposition to this corruption was loud and apparent, and she made it hard for a guardsman to hide behind the veil of their position.
So when the pair arrived at the guardhouse their prisoners were taken eagerly, but their questions were met with scorn and noncooperation. Unpleasant words were thrown about before the sorcerer and paladin gave up on the endeavor and decided to collect their thoughts at the tavern.
Fortunately they were intercepted by a pair of hunters who reported seeing a group of Rosewoods carrying children off to a hideout of theirs. The hunters demanded compensation for ending their expedition, but the pair, and especially Kefka, were in no mood to be giving money to anyone after the day's near-riot, and so they were directed to Count Clais' estate, where they likely got a rather cold reception.
Night was falling so the two decided to rest and set out in the early morning.
....
Leliana was confounded by Kefka's incredible ability to traverse the wilderness on their way to the Rosewood hideout. The young sorcerer found paths, kept their way, and avoided danger better than most experienced woodsmen.
When they happened upon the cave in which the elves were dwelling they hid out in some brush to wait for nightfall. Under cover of darkness the two infiltrated the cave and attacked the Rosewoods, easily sweeping through the hideout until they reached last room.
The leader of the gang, Nal'thun Sefallahoine, and his right hand Marciaeux Thuf'nal'fallwen had the children at knife point along with some of their compatriots. An unusually sophisticated magical focus was set up nearby.
But, surprisingly, the elves seemed to ease a bit when they saw that one of their assailants was Leliana. They did not release the children, but they were suddenly open to negotiation. Nal'thun opened up, saying that some agreement he had with Count Clais did not prevent his men from ransoming the townsfolk and demanded that Clais call off his dogs, lest he "incur the Shadow Lord's wrath."
All of this was news to Leliana, but she tried to act the part in order to secure the children's safety. Unfortunately she was a bad liar. It was clear that despite being one of Clais' key employees, she was not privy to whatever plot was hatched between him and the elves. Nal'thun and Marciaeux cut the throats of the children before anyone could react, and the adventurers watched in horror as the focused channeled some sort of terrible magic that caused spectral beings to rise from the lifeless bodies.
The fight that ensued was not easy, but Leliana and Kefka seemed to have the upper hand. Kefka destroyed the focus before all else, which he hoped would make the remaining children no longer a target.
Marciaeux also went down, and the tide of battle was clearly favoring the aggressors. Nal'thun offered to allow the children to go free if the two spared his life, and the group agreed. However, as soon as he sensed on opportunity he attempted get a surprise attack off on his adversaries. His intrigue failed, however, and he was cut down.
When they happened upon the cave in which the elves were dwelling they hid out in some brush to wait for nightfall. Under cover of darkness the two infiltrated the cave and attacked the Rosewoods, easily sweeping through the hideout until they reached last room.
The leader of the gang, Nal'thun Sefallahoine, and his right hand Marciaeux Thuf'nal'fallwen had the children at knife point along with some of their compatriots. An unusually sophisticated magical focus was set up nearby.
But, surprisingly, the elves seemed to ease a bit when they saw that one of their assailants was Leliana. They did not release the children, but they were suddenly open to negotiation. Nal'thun opened up, saying that some agreement he had with Count Clais did not prevent his men from ransoming the townsfolk and demanded that Clais call off his dogs, lest he "incur the Shadow Lord's wrath."
All of this was news to Leliana, but she tried to act the part in order to secure the children's safety. Unfortunately she was a bad liar. It was clear that despite being one of Clais' key employees, she was not privy to whatever plot was hatched between him and the elves. Nal'thun and Marciaeux cut the throats of the children before anyone could react, and the adventurers watched in horror as the focused channeled some sort of terrible magic that caused spectral beings to rise from the lifeless bodies.
The fight that ensued was not easy, but Leliana and Kefka seemed to have the upper hand. Kefka destroyed the focus before all else, which he hoped would make the remaining children no longer a target.
Marciaeux also went down, and the tide of battle was clearly favoring the aggressors. Nal'thun offered to allow the children to go free if the two spared his life, and the group agreed. However, as soon as he sensed on opportunity he attempted get a surprise attack off on his adversaries. His intrigue failed, however, and he was cut down.
A cursory examination of the bodies revealed little, but Kefka did find a surprisingly valuable wand on Marciaeux's body, which he took. They left the cave with the children and returned to town.
.....
After the children were returned Leliana and Kefka were determined to make Clais answer for what they had discovered. This determination was furthered when they payed a quick visit to Baranabus, who urged Kefka to exposed Clais to the crown, even if it meant leaving Flotsam.
Leliana's accusations frustrated Clais, but he insisted his innocence. The more she pressed, however, the more distressed he seemed to be. Eventually he relented, admitting that the Rosewoods had been taking a portion of the towns taxes for months, shorting the crown of it's due. He claimed that he has no choice, however, and showed the duo a hidden tunnel that had been dug into his home.
Clais said that there were at least a dozen such tunnels under the town, and that those were just the ones the guard knew about. There was no way the town could defend themselves against the elves without the aid of the walls, so his excuse seemed sound.
Still, Clais was committing treason, and it wasn't as if this was the only sign of his corruption. The group still resolved to leave town, planning to head to Marcone to seek advice from one of Clais' rivals, Bloody Se.
But before they could leave they were intercepted by an organized group of men who claimed to be arresting them for plotting to assassinate King Turisas of Heneselt. Mixed among them were Flotsam guardsman.
The sudden accusation was truly a surprise to both of the detainees, but it would have been useless to fight. The two were carried away to a docked ship and stuffed into small, crate like cages.
Clais said that there were at least a dozen such tunnels under the town, and that those were just the ones the guard knew about. There was no way the town could defend themselves against the elves without the aid of the walls, so his excuse seemed sound.
Still, Clais was committing treason, and it wasn't as if this was the only sign of his corruption. The group still resolved to leave town, planning to head to Marcone to seek advice from one of Clais' rivals, Bloody Se.
But before they could leave they were intercepted by an organized group of men who claimed to be arresting them for plotting to assassinate King Turisas of Heneselt. Mixed among them were Flotsam guardsman.
The sudden accusation was truly a surprise to both of the detainees, but it would have been useless to fight. The two were carried away to a docked ship and stuffed into small, crate like cages.
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