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Astyannax grumbled a bit as the group walked through the streets to the orphanage.
Heavens forfend we have a plan instead of wandering in blindly. No wonder Pathfinders prefer to work alone.
He had planned on asking if any in the group are especially skilled at reading other people, but decides to skip it.
"Plan? We're delivering medicine and having a look around. If she won't let us have a look around, then she won't get the medicine until she does. Unless someone else has a better idea."
Auntie Baltwin immediately focuses on wheedling Quintus, as if he is a foolish child that she is trying to win over.
The old woman smiles at Quintus, though she is missing a few of her teeth and all of her looks. "Oh, aren't you charming? I'm certain that the kids would love to hear the stories that you have to tell. Why, look at those clothes! You must be a man of some wealth and upbringing. Please, come in. The children suffer from a variety of ills, not least of which is abandonment by the people of this city. We have so little medicine that we must make do with. We subsist entirely on the generosity of strangers such as yourself!"
As they come up to the threshold of the house, she points a crooked finger at Zavac. "You stay outside. I don't want you giving my kids whatever it is that you seem to have caught in whatever mongrel hole you came from." She gestures towards Garauk as well. "I think it would be best if you waited with him."
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As they enter, old habits from the Sargavan Guard cause Dasiji to look around, paying attention to details that pass in front of most people's eyes without notice. Ah. As Kehl said. He then looks at Ms. Baltwin, examining her with the practiced eye of a ranger trained in first aid and a guard experienced at dealing with people at their worst. He smiles gently. "And what of your own health, Auntie? Are you well?"
She looks at Dasiji up and down. "Nothing that can't be fixed with some special medicine. My health is not nearly as important as the children's, and I do what I have to do to keep going."
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Quintus easily maintains his convincing smile as he addresses the woman. "Our generosity is but a trifle compared to someone like you, taking the time to care for children in need. Truly, you do Absalom an honor." Ha! She should be thanking us!
He attempts to gather a number of kids around a relatively clean area free of the feline creatures. "Gather round, everyone! You'd like to hear a story, kids, right?" Quintus waves Baltwin over as well, hoping to give Kehl the distraction he needs to slip away unnoticed. "You too, Auntie, right kids? Maybe I can teach her some bedtime stories to tell."
Once he has a sizable crowd, Quintus begins. "Have you ever heard of Osirion? A desert land to the south, Land of the Pharaohs? This is a story of one pharaoh... kind of like a king... who had many children..."
Quintus goes on to tell the story, acting out the parts as necessary. However, it's painfully obvious he makes it up as he goes. He tells of the Pharaoh's wife who becomes very sick and an old servant woman named Esho who takes care of the children. The servant is very mean, often punishing the children for the slightest things. Eventually the Pharaoh discovers the old servant drinking and banishes her into the desert, finding a new, much kinder servant, Shepsit, who he eventually marries.
"... and the Pharaoh and new Queen Shepsit happily lived to see their children grow old. So what do you think, kids. Isn't Auntie just like kind Shepsit?"
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As Quintus begins his act, Dasiji lounges casually against a wall to one side. He carefully examines the room and everyone in it, keeping a mild smile on his face the whole time and giving a friendly nod whenever he happens to accidentally make eye contact with someone. After a minute or so, he moves around the back to the other side of the room as if seeking a better vantage point for the show, and resumes his survey.
Auntie Baltwin spots Kehl attempting to slip away and snaps at him. "Hey, don't go off into the other rooms. I don't want you getting any of the kids sick!" She barks at him and eyes him suspiciously. "I don't have any gold or silver to take, so don't bother looking!"
She and the children listen to Quintus's story. Even she seems enchanted by it, though it is clear that she sees herself as Shepsit in this story rather than Epso. She beams at Quintus, who she has taken quite the shine to. "Thank him for the story, children. Perhaps he can come again and share another with you sometime soon. Would you children like that?" The kids murmur their agreement, apparently quite pleased with the story despite Quintus's hammy scenery-chewing.
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Astyannax shakes his head a little as Auntie Baltwin yells at Kehl.
Perhaps if we had worked out some STRATEGY, I could have helped create a diversion. He actually sighs aloud, though quietly.
Then he snaps his head up and looks towards a door into another room.
Loud enough for everyone to hear, including the children: Hey, was that a rat?.
He moves quickly towards that door and on into the room as if he were chasing the vermin. He did say this loud enough for the children to hear.
Auntie Baltwin snaps at Astynnax as well, moving towards him slowly with her cane in hand. She is wobbly on her feet as she stands up too quickly, but certainly has no trouble letting him know that she is not pleased with him. "Hey, you! Let the cats get it? What do you think they're here for? I don't come to your house and explore without asking permission!"
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Kehl just groans at himself, quietly.
Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic. Bested by a crone as old as the Starstone.
He watches Baltwin flourish her cane at Astynnax with a little amusement however.
We should just stop playing around here.
Kehl exits, while she faces the cavalier, heading back to the front door. Once he is surely out of sight of the woman, he will attempt once again, to have a look in the other rooms.
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As he pats his belt pouch, he stops in surprise. Slowly, he pulls out the container of medicine. With a sheepish grin, he holds it out to Dasiji.
Yes, of course. Here it is. Certainly.
Must be the smell of this place.
He starts gagging, as if he is about to throw up. He heads back out the front door.
Excuse me.
Once outside, he's going to look for a back entrance, briefly telling the two out there it is not going well.
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If the wooden parcel is unsealed, then Dasiji examines the medicine -- just looking at it and sniffing -- to see if he recognizes it and its uses. "May I ask what the medicine is and what it's for, Auntie? I should've asked Ms. Zadrian before we left, but I'm new to the Pathfinder Society and its ways."
"Also, I am trained in healing. May I examine the children upstairs? I can hear their coughs and sneezes from here, the poor dears." Dasiji smiles apologetically at being so forward.
Auntie Baltwin suspiciously eyes both Kehl and Astynnax as they mysteriously leave, but says nothing. When Dasiji mentions going upstairs, she snaps at him. "The medicine is for healing the children, something that your presence there won't help with! Even magic takes a while to kick in, and I don't get that much of it! Most of the kids have to have more mundane treatment. 'What is it for?' What a foolish question!"
Kehl takes a sudden turn up the stairs, sneaking quietly with practiced feet. He starts glancing around, looking at a few rooms to go in. He peeks in one with the sound of coughing coming from behind a closed door, but sees the to-be-expected sick children on beds. He starts glancing around the upstairs, looking for Auntie's room where she would keep her secrets hidden. He might not have that much time unless Quintus stalls, but he seems quite capable in that regard.
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Quintus watches Dasiji and Baltwin, frustrated that all their attempts have been thwarted by the seemingly omniscient old woman. However, from where he's standing he sees Kehl finally succeed at slipping away and tries to keep Baltwin busy until the rogue reappears.
"Mistress Baltwin, I think my friend here just wants to make sure we received the right medicine from Ms. Zadrian at the temple. Keep an eye out for the good common folk like you, you know? Make sure those rich religious types aren't trying to swindle you. Dasiji here is from far away... probably still learning the ropes here in a city outside of the jungle! Am I right?" Quintus looks at the ranger with a look that screams play along!
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Quintus watches Dasiji and Baltwin, frustrated that all their attempts have been thwarted by the seemingly omniscient old woman. However, from where he's standing he sees Kehl finally succeed at slipping away and tries to keep Baltwin busy until the rogue reappears.
"Mistress Baltwin, I think my friend here just wants to make sure we received the right medicine from Ms. Zadrian at the temple. Keep an eye out for the good common folk like you, you know? Make sure those rich religious types aren't trying to swindle you. Dasiji here is from far away... probably still learning the ropes here in a city outside of the jungle! Am I right?" Quintus looks at the ranger with a look that screams play along!
Dasiji nods. "That is true." "I meant what ailments is the medicine for. Apologies for the misunderstanding. I want to make sure that the medicine is well-matched to curing what ails the children, and that is where my training comes in."
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Having gone outside, Astyannax moves away from the front door.
There's got to be another door here on the side. He walks around the side of the house, crouching to stay beneath the level of any windows.
[ooc]He goes out back if there is no side door. [/]
Or out back
He continues looking for a door, as well as scanning the yard for any other structures, like a shed. He looks back to see if either of the other two followed him.
Astynnax walks around to a side door to the house, looking left and right as he prepares to make entry. Just before he can, however, a young child walks up from the street behind him. "What's going on? Who are you?" The boy looks to be about ten years old, with dirty smudges on his face and a mop of rowdy black hair. The look on his eyes is one of streetwise suspicion.
Kehl finds nothing in his quick searches, hardly more than what the place appears to be on face value: a convalescence for children. There are herbal poultices and remedies lying about, apparently in frequent use. There are quite a few bottles of whiskey in varying states of half-empty, but hardly anything more suspicious or incriminatory than that.
Dasiji and Quintus try their best to keep Auntie Baltwin and the children focused on them. The crotchety old woman beams over Quintus, but continues to rudely snap at Dasiji's inquiries. "What, you think I don't know what I'm doing? If they catch malaria, I'll let you know. This is a place where sick children come to get better. If you don't think I'm doing a good job, ask the hundreds of kids that I've helped over after more than thirty years!" If not for her apparent fondness for Quintus, she most likely would have forced them out a while ago.
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Astyannax takes a step back from the door and turns towards the voice. He sizes up the boy and talks to him as an adult .
I'm Astyannax. We're come to deliver some medicine. Do you live here? He gestures at the house with his left hand.
He looks to see if Zavac and Garauk have come around to the side of the house with him.
The young boy sizes Astynnax up with eyes far older than his actual age. He nods slowly, apparently satisfied. "Yep, since I was five. My parents dropped me off here when I got sick. Auntie took care of me and got me better. I'm not sick anymore, so I go out to earn my keep with all the other who owe her. She keeps most of the money, but she's all we got, so I don't mind." He jingles a bag of coins in his pocket. "Besides, it's not like it's hard work. We clean some rich folks' mansions for a few silver. Keeps the rest of the younger ones from gettin' sicker and lets Auntie buy some nice stuff. She deserves it. You know most of the healin' she does, she learned herself? We get them potions and stuff from time to time, but she just says that those ain't good for nothin' except healin' broken bones and stuff."
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Astyannax tries to keep his facial expression steady.
I'm glad you healed. I'm sure the work you do at the mansions helps you stay healthy. You probably do some other chores there too.
He looks to see if anybody else is around.
Buys some nice stuff, eh? I'm sure she uses some of it on things around the house for all of you good children, as well. Maybe some clothes, or food or toys.
Smiles.
So, she's a good healer, eh? Doesn't like to use those medicines on you?
Nods his head, in what he hopes passes for 'sagely.'
I know some people don't think they're very helpful. She must be one of those.
Why isn't the clever one here to talk to him?
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Well we're not getting anywhere this way... I hope Kehl had enough time to do what he needed.
Quintus continues to speak kindly to Baltwin despite his frustration, "Oh, of course we think you're doing a good job! My good friend here is just offering assistance to ease all the hard work you do. We're very sorry to have taken up so much of your time... I think we can get out of your hair now."
He moves outside to where the half-orcs were left behind .
The boy warily observes Astynnax, not unlike a cagey wild animal sizing up a potential predator. "It's not a big deal. I owe her, so I don't mind helping out and doing my part. She does a lot of good for a lot of us, who most folks just ignore. She can be mean sometimes, especially when she's been drinkin', but that ain't a big deal. She's always buying cats and stuff for them, but they make her happy."
As Quintus leaves, the children and Auntie Baltwin say goodbye with some affection. They seem to genuinely like the bard and his stories. A few of the kids wave, a few give quick hugs. Hardly anyone looks at or thanks Dasiji for his help, but Dasiji didn't come with fun stories.
Kehl sneaks out just before Quintus leaves, reconnecting with the half-orcs still waiting patiently outside. As Quintus and Dasiji join them, Auntie Baltwin says goodbye. "All right, hopefully you've seen that I run a tight ship around here. You get any more medicine, I'd be happy to have it. These kids don't get better on their own, you know."
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Dasiji and Quintus try their best to keep Auntie Baltwin and the children focused on them. The crotchety old woman beams over Quintus, but continues to rudely snap at Dasiji's inquiries. "What, you think I don't know what I'm doing? If they catch malaria, I'll let you know. This is a place where sick children come to get better. If you don't think I'm doing a good job, ask the hundreds of kids that I've helped over after more than thirty years!" If not for her apparent fondness for Quintus, she most likely would have forced them out a while ago.
Well we're not getting anywhere this way... I hope Kehl had enough time to do what he needed.
Quintus continues to speak kindly to Baltwin despite his frustration, "Oh, of course we think you're doing a good job! My good friend here is just offering assistance to ease all the hard work you do. We're very sorry to have taken up so much of your time... I think we can get out of your hair now."
He moves outside to where the half-orcs were left behind .
Left alone with the old woman, Dasiji shrugs off his backpack and places the small wooden parcel inside. "My new friends are rather strange, are they not? But they have left this with me, and I have seen enough. The question is not in whether you know what you're doing, or how many kids you've helped; it's in whether your use of the Silver Crusade's charity matches their aims." He slings the backpack over his shoulders again and pauses.
"Let me be blunt: you're drunk, and the downstairs children have mostly just been treated with bed rest and other non-medicinal means. I'm not asking, I'm not guessing, and I'm not going to argue either -- it's a fact. I was willing to withhold my judgment until I'd seen it all; but as you're withholding my seeing it all, my judgment is now and it's no. Goodbye... Gilga." Dasiji turns and walks to go out the way he came in.
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Astyannax listens to the boy's response.
Sounds like she's helping them with housing, but she's using them. Where does the medicine go?
Well, she sounds like a nice lady.
Where is everyone?
He comes away from the door and heads back towards the front, in no way menacing the boy or making any threatening gestures.
Well, it was nice to meet you.
He tosses a silver piece to the boy.
Here. Hope this helps a bit.
He continues to the front to find somebody else in the party.
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Astyannax walks up just as Quintus finishes speaking.
"Not quite. Let's talk up the block a bit. I don't want to be overheard."
He waits for Dasiji to come outside and leads the group a half black up the street.
Before they leave, he looks at Kehl and says sarcastically, "It's simple. No need for any planning. Right, that went just geat. We really showed her what for. She banned a third of us from the house." Shakes his head and stops.
When they are away from the house, he relates what the boy told him.
"So, she's renting the children out for work and keeping the money."
He frowns.
"Who knows what unpleasant tasks she might let them go for?"
He focuses on Quintus. "She's not using the medicine. I'd guess she's selling it. Which can't be what the church wants."
Looks at each of those who were inside the house. ]b]"I don't have the medicine. Did you give it to her?"[/b]
"I suppose the kid could have been making it up, though he seemed sincere to me. And she was...unpleasant. What did the rest of you learn after I went outside?"
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Dasiji exits the front door and follows Astyannax up the street with the rest of the group. "The medicine is in my pack; and it's more a matter of what I learned before, examining the children discreetly -- but at length -- while Quintus was telling his story. We just didn't get a chance to talk in private."
"I saw that the children's illnesses had mostly just been healed with bed rest and traditional methods. Adding in that she was drunk, and the place was overrun with cats, it doesn't take a Jatembe to figure out that she was selling the medicine for herself and her pets."
"If Ollysta Zadrian or the rest of you think that I'm wrong, then I'll bring the medicine back and personally apologize to Auntie Baltwin." Dasiji gives a slight bow.
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"All I learned is that I can charm an old lady. Blech." Quintus scrunches up his face in disgust, but his expression turns to one of concern as he hears Astyannax and Dasiji explain what they found.
"Huh. Didn't notice any of that... are you guys sure? If you're right, I'd hate to leave all those kids here if she's not taking care of them. Maybe we can see if Ollysta can help..." Quintus trails off as he stares back at the orphanage, his usual upbeat mood considerably diminished.
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Dasiji addresses Quintus. "I wouldn't have had enough time to examine the children without either your keeping them still or Gilga's permission, which I doubt she would've given. It wasn't the way we planned, but it worked."
He turns to Astyannax. "Speaking of the way we planned, I think that you're right. We need to coordinate better. Learn each other's strengths and figure out how to use them best. Simply arranging how to get some privacy and share what we'd learned would've gone a long way."
Then back to Quintus! "As far as I can tell, she is actually taking care of the children, just without the medicine. But I think that Ollysta might be interested in Astyannax's report of Gilga sending the older, healed kids to work for spending money; so, let's tell her."
Dasiji turns to go and leads the way back if the others follow, keeping an eye out for the pretty girl. It would seem unlikely in such a large city, but he's an optimist.
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"Huh. An old lady selling kids' medicine and using the money to buy drink."
He looks at the group. ]b]"That sound like her?"[/b]
He frowns and rubs his eyes. Too much thinking inolved so far.
"The orphanage seems to be helping. At least, for the boy I talked to. Perhaps..."
He's not sure where the train of thought should go next and lets it trail off.
The Pathfinders return to the Temple of the Shining Star, finding Ollysta Zadrian still helping people in Sarenrae's name. As they approach her, she looks over at them with a smile. When she spots the medicine still in Dasiji's hands, disappointment fills her face. She excuses herself from the orphan she is helping to walk to them, meeting them in the middle of the crowded temple. "I see that you did not turn over the medicine. I fear that means that you did not find Gilga Baltwin to be trustworthy, and that saddens me. Tell me, what did you find?"
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"I found a place that was swarming with cats and children, and yet was clean. I found a suspicious old woman who twice refused to let me have a look at the children upstairs, though I am trained in healing. She looked either sick or drunk, and I found a nearly empty bottle of whiskey in the sitting room."
"I also found children so hungry for stories that they held still for Quintus's... and so I was able to look at the downstairs kids anyway. I found signs of illnesses that had in fact been healed -- but mostly just by bed rest and traditional arts. If Gilga Baltwin has been getting medicine from the Silver Crusade, then one thing that I did not find was much evidence that it was being used on the children."
"I am not perfect and I did not see everything, but I can only go by what I saw. I judged that she was most likely doing good and helping the children, while trading your medicine to feed her other loves of whiskey and cats. I found that she may be worthy, but not of your trust."
Dasiji turns to Astyannax. "I didn't include what you said about the boy because I didn't hear it myself, and I don't want to say it wrong. But it could be important."
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Astyannax looks at the paladin and, when she doesn't immediately speak, he repeats his encounter with the boy.
"So, as he said," flicks his head towards Dasiji, "she doesn't seem to be using the medicine for the children."
He pauses. "As for having the kids work, unless you find out what they have to do, that doesn't seem related to our mission.... Well, other than maybe leaving a mark on the old lady's character."
He thinks he is finished but decides to add, "I've seen a lot worse places in Taldor."
His tone seems to indicate he is mildly annoyed she isn't using the medicine, but doesn't seem too upset about her making the children work.
He looks around to see if anybody else wants to add something and takes a small step backwards to indicate he is finished.
Ollysta looks saddened and pained as they give her the news. "I always knew in my heart of hearts that she was not being forthcoming with me. I can only hope that she does more good than harm to the children, but it seems to me that she does quite well without the assistance of the Silver Crusade. Our resources would be better spent elsewhere, I think, to help those in assistance rather than to line her pockets. She may yet do some good, and I will not lose hope of that, but she will not have our support." She takes the medicine back from Dasiji and gives it to one of the acolytes of Sarenrae. "Please, take this token of my appreciation. I have seen into your hearts and I know that you will find a way to put it to the most good. You will be a powerful force for good, and I hope that this small token allows you a head start in this endeavor." One of the acolytes returns and hands each of the Pathfinders a bag of jingling coins. She wistfully returns to her duties - close enough that anyone interested can speak to her more about the Silver Crusade, but far enough that they can decide where to go next unimpeded.