Intro Story - Read the Fourth Request

Bottommost Parchment (written in blocky print with occasional ink smears):

Senators,

We have a delicate situation. A small band of bandits has been seen on the Valley Road, in the woods just beyond Crennel Pass. Normally this would be work for the patrols King Peter sends to keep the roads safe.

In this case, the bandits were seen wearing Queen Penelope of Medissa’s colors, the scarlet and silver of House Aleur. We inquired whether she claimed these lands, and although she denied it, she told a strange story. Her daughter Sandra had taken a party of guards and run off, to what end Queen Penelope does not claim to know. While she recognizes her daughter may be reckless, she asks that we indulge this youthful folly and avoid bringing our full force down on her party.

King Peter sees through this plainly. If we do nothing and let Princess Sandra continue to prey on travelers, we bleed our commerce—but more importantly, we lose the trust and confidence of the people we are sworn to protect. If we arrest or kill these fools, Queen Penelope can use the manufactured slight as a pretext for an attack.

We do not fear the armies of Medissa, but neither do we want a war we could avoid. King Peter asked you to look into the situation. He asks you to discourage the group from remaining in that forest. Princess Sandra must be convinced to return home; her companions you may treat as you please.

I know you have many worries and everyone asks a lot of you. I wouldn’t turn to you if we had any other options. Thank you for all you do for our people.

Yours in all things,

Captain Mendel