The Way of the Sword

Having resolved issues in Laster Shores, the party was made aware of a kidnapping and went to investigate. Apparently, a visiting dignitary was carried off by persons unknown. That dignitary was none other than Rensa, the concubine of a wealthy and ruthless Daizu Wang. The Wang, Chidak of the Red Dawn Tribe, had a reputation as a remorseless and indefatigable enemy. For that reason, the local priest, Shepherd Hutan, thought it best for Laster Shores if the ire of such a one did not get kindled against the town -- which he would surely hold responsible.

According to the priest, the concubine was sent into Laster Shores for medical care, as she was with child. This is unusual for people of the Steppes as they are wont to give birth in the wild. However, Chidak was especially protective of Rensa because he had yet to produce a male heir, and it was hoped that this girl would give him one.

The priest claimed to have a special relationship with the Daizu on account of missionary work on the plains. He also identified the ne'er-do-wells which had taken the girl. He named them sellswords seen loitering about town. One called himself Parker and the other Sir Longbranch, though it was doubted by all that he was in fact a knight. Both men were last seen drinking and plotting some nefarity at the local tavern, but kept their plans to themselves.  According to the concubine's bodyguards (a Westruner-gone-native named Jeffers and a Daizu named Ozaki) the two offenders were unmistakeable. So, at the request of Shepherd Hutan, the party immediately gave chase.

They caught up with Parker and Sir Longbranch several days away in the wildnerness, where the two men were quickly slain and the concubine rescued. Much to their surprise, they discovered that her child was not Wang Chidak's at all, but Shepherd Hutan's. To complicate matters, the party learned that the priest was actually the long-estranged son of the Wang, a half-Eastruner, half-Westruner offspring born of one raid or another. He had been sent to Watersedge as a child and there learned to love the faith rather than war. The child that Chidak hoped to have via Rensa was his own replacement as heir. Upon sending his concubine to be examined of Shepherd Hutan, the young priest fell in love.

Faced by the bitter truth, the young priest asked the characters to help him and his love escape. The party refused and instead purposed to send Rensa back to Chidak without telling him whose child she bore -- not the son but the grandson. On the way, the party was overtaken by Sogo -- First Blade of Wang Chidak and also the father of the concubine's. Both Shepherd Hutan and Rensa were surrendered at once.