DaWay's PFS First Steps (Group 1) (Inactive)

Game Master DaWay

Hmmm? What was that son? Oh, I thought you knew, this be Auntie Baltwin's Home for Recovery. I thought you knew that. Aren't you agents for the Society? You are carrying the supplies we so desperately need.

"My apologies, I am not too familiar with this district and haven't heard of your business until today."

Zoltan had nodded firmly to Felinros' suggestion that the priest lead the discussion. Right then! The gift 'o gab was never much my thing, 'cept if you want a body scared. That I can do. The gladiator then proceeded to stand behind the Caileanite priest and simply smile and nod in agreement with his words.

Auntie Baltwin gives you a grin Mathias Oh, ain't that the cutest thing. You brought a pet with you. as she eyes Zoltan and then back to Mathias, He's your responsibility, make sure he doesn't touch anything. If he relieves himself on my rug you are cleaning it up.

Zoltan shot a confused look back at Chelaxian wizard, then turned back to Madame Baltwin, Fancy pants has a pet? I don't see any...HEY, I'm nobody's pet I'll have you know! Now there's no cause for that kinda rudeness, we're just here to help.The gladiator appeared shocked and a little bit hurt by the woman's words, but otherwise took no other actions.

Brother Felinros offers a drink to the old woman "Caylen's blessings on you good lady." Looking up to the building he follows: "We would look upon the children who have fallen ill while we are here as we wish to make sure the right medicine is being supplied, if that is all right with you..."

"Oh, but of course. I keep all my pets on a very, tight, leash.", patting Zoltan on the back as he plays along with the crone's insult. "Now Zoltan, you be a good boy and handover the lady's medicine, nice and slowly since an elderly woman with such frail, shaky hands could hardly handle lifting one of her many cats, let alone the package of goods so heavy that only you with your godlike muscles could bear!"

With that, Mathias steps outside and moves to talk to some of the kids.

Zoltan frowned at the Chelaxian as he walked away and mumbled, well, it's not THAT heavy, I was just helpin' out with the lifting part. After a puzzled look he turned to Brother Felinros and added, wait, that was sarcasm wasn't it! Urrr....wizards are a pain in my arse. Before handing over the medicine, Zoltan glances over at Felinros again, as if waiting to see if he too approved of giving the supplies to Baltwin.

Moving over to the kids playing marbles, Mathias kneels down and observes the game. "Hello lads, you're looking pretty well here. Auntie Botwin is taking care of you I see."

The children look up at Mathias, one little boy with dirt smudged all over his face says, Yessah, She cooks real good to. Its nice getting a hot meal after going to work all day. with that the boy immediately covers his mouth with his hands, turns from you and goes to play with some of the other kids.

The elf continues to keep quiet and listen, though one corner of his mouth quirks in something close to a smile at the exchange between Zoltan and Mathias. At Felinros' action, he moves a little closer and asks, "Would it be acceptable to you if the Brother looked in on your sick charges?"

Felinros places a hand on Zoltan's large shoulder halting him.

"We're to look on the children to check their progress then turn over the medicine... Make sure the potency is correct. Lead on M'lady."

GM: Would it be radically out of the ordinary in this city/area if orphans worked to help defray costs? They seem well enough otherwise.

Child Labor is used though it is frowned upon.

She let's you into her sitting room there is an empty bottle of whiskey as well as another half in the kitchen. The room is filthy and it seems as if the cleaning is done mainly by those who do not have a long attention span.

"Hmmm, odd and telling...", ponders Mathias, the raven-haired wizard now moving to his Shoanti companion outside. "Besides having a viper's tongue, the hag seems be having the children do more than just recover here."

Zoltan nodded at Felinros' gesture and held on to the medication, he then proceeded to follow the cleric as he traversed the home. He said nothing, but taking in the filthy surroundings brought a frown to the man's normally boisterous face.

Vanyel follows, his lip curling in something like disgust at the surroundings.

Felinros looks grimly around the room. "And the children are upstairs? Let us proceed..."

Heading up the creaky stairs you stop a couple of times to pull the cobwebs from your face. In a large room, you can presume a master bedroom, there are a number of children getting the bedrest they need. The silence is only broken by a cough from several children.

Brother Felinros quietly moves to the center of the and a burst of palapable positive energy flows through the room from him. The wave reaches you with a brief burst of euphoria, like the first wave of intoxication that you would feel after a stiff drink on an empty stomach. The euphoria quickly fades leaving you peacefully whole, healing the little knicks and scrapes that you may have accumulated over the past days. Felinros then quietly walks the room carefully, but gently, checking to see that all the little forms are breathing, however raggedly.

Once use of channel energy used. Also, do the cobwebs indicate that no one had taken these stairs in some time, or is the crone unusually short?

Short

Zoltan coughed up a few cobwebs as he reached the top of the stairs. Phah! Don't anybody ever clean up here? Realizing there are apparently sleeping children around he adds in a somewhat quieter voice, oh, whoops, didn't see the lil' buggers at first. How many of 'em have you got here?

At the aid of the priest of the Lucky Drunk the childrens faces become more flushed and sit up with their new found strength. Groggy but still wary the six children give their thanks, and start to sit up. Their former raspy breathing is now clear and healthy.

"Zoltan, if you would hand the lady the medicine, I believe the children are well enough for a dose.". The Brother seems much less his jovial self as he turns and walks down the stairs to wait below for the medicine to be distributed.

Shinkeer begins exploring the nearby vicinity, looking for people to talk too.

Zoltan shrugs a bit, not fully contented with the situation, but does indeed hand over the supplies. As he follows Felinros downstairs he mumbles, seems like you did more in there than that woman does. They told us to give 'em the drugs no matter what, but maybe we should let him know that things ain't right here.

"I have heard things about this woman before, now that I think on it. She is quite the drinker, and her neighbors comment on how the only time they have peace and quiet is during the day when the children go into town. Oh, yes. She apparently cheats at cards, and has suspicious visitors on occasion."

Shinkeer there is a market nearby, her neighbors a couple that looks like they have been there for a while, and an estate across the street.

Shinkeer walks down to the market.

Those of you trying to gather information go ahead and roll your diplomacy.

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 8

After verifying that the children are given a dose of the medicine, Brother Felinros joins in the efforts to gather information...

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Shaking his head, the elf bids the woman a good day, and leaves with the others.

Diplomacy to gather information (or Aid Another, as appropriate): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Incidentally, DW, did Vanyel get anything more from his Sense Motive check?

ETA: Vanyel murmurs to Brother Felinros as the party leaves, "I believe she plans to sell at least a portion of the medicine. It is none of my concern, but--" He shrugs. "--Ollysta Zadrian will likely want to know."

The information gathered is the same as Vanyels ealier knowledge local roll.

Zoltan follows along with the others, still feeling a bit grim about the situation at the orphanage. As others walk around interacting with locals about the situation, the gladiator tags a long to watch out for signs of trouble. After a bit he says, well, I guess we did what we're suppose to here, maybe we should move on. What's next on the list?

"Zadrian asked us to return to her and report, and then I believe we were intending to meet with Dremdhet Salhar in the Wise Quarter."

As the party leaves the orphanage behind Brother Felinros nods to Vanyel, and says to the group "I agree, she is selling at least some of the medicine and taking advantage of her position. We will let Zadrian know and if she isn't able to take action, perhaps we can try to alleviate the situation ourselves. For now, my thought is we report our discovery and move on to the next task for completion."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

"Hmm seems to me the kids are doing more than just 'recovering' at her place. One of them mentioned working during the day. I can't imagine the paladins would like to hear about child servitude, outside of their churches of course."

..........

I am following along, silently watching everything going on.

Having made his mind up, Arjunta exits the orphanage and walks towards the Wise Quarter.

"On to the next task? I yearn for true challenges and adventure. Messenger duty irks me."

"Should we report to Zadrian before we begin the next task? I'd prefer to fully cross it off the list before we move on."

"I concur. It is not good to leave a Society task half-finished, and she might have something that we can use for later endeavors."

"Agreed. I'm sure Lady Zandrian would love to hear the gossip we have uncovered."

Your group arrives back at the Temple of the Shining Star where Lady Zandrian has busied herself in her off polishing her armor. She looks up at you awaiting your report.

"Medicine delivered. The orphanage is run by an alcoholic little old lady. She may be using the children for a labor pool."

Zoltan nodded at the Shoanti's description. Place is dirty too, not well kept after. Maybe the kids got no where else to go but, not the greatest set up.

Sounding faintly bored, Vanyel adds, "I was left with the distinct impression that not all of the medicine was going to the children."

"I'm sure it would be in your best interest to contact the authorities about 'Auntie Baltwin'."

The priest of the Lucky Drunk seems quite dour as he adds to the reports of the others.

"She does appear to be cursed by addiction, and perhaps a curing of that disease might be a good start to set things right, though the problems are greater than just that. Those who abuse the drink, rather then celebrate it can often be cursed by Caylen, but it is not a curse that is impossible to overcome."

Brother Felinros continues grimly, "We all agree that the sick children were in poor shape and my guess is that they are not getting her the medicine. It does appear that they are being forced to work, though the healthy ones did not seem particularly unhappy with their lot. As for the sickly, I did what I could but if she keeps failing to give them the medicine they need it is possible that they will not pull through."