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Jubei whispers to the rest of the party, "My senses detect significant evil emanating from this woman. How she goes about doing unsavoury deeds, I am unsure, but I am sure that these children are in- or have always been- in danger."
"Calm yourself, Harboth... think of the innocent children. Patience. The opportune moment will present itself soon."
Her attention snaps to Rachel as soon as she begins to chant her spell, but she is not fast enough to do anything to stop her. A few short seconds later and she is more than happy to let you inspect the house.
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Harboth turns back to Jubei with a grin.
Well said, friend, as I think we have our opportune moment. By the way, this woman reeks of booze, in case you didn't see the empty bottle next to her. Let's see what there is to see.
Harboth stands to leave for a look around, but will keep behind any others in the group to avoid scaring the children...if possible.
"Whoa there, I like you and everything, but your not sending that big dirty brute through my home to scare the children!" she says to Rachel, turning to Harboth "And so what if I do have a nip now and again? Huh, have you ever tried dealing with this many screaming children? Hmmm, no, of course not, you can't blame an old woman for wanting a nip now and again, can you?" she asks of the group at large, turning back to Rachel she says "Send the Elf, he's to high and mighty for me to half to worry about sticky fingers, I wouldn't mind that to much....maybe the other pointy ear too....as long as he keeps his fingers to himself! I know the look of him....I'm old, but I'm not blind!" she says.
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1d20+4
Grumbling the whole time about little a hobo wander her house, and a monsterous half-orc to boot, Auntie agrees to let Harboth go check in on the children, warning him to mind his grubby fingers and to not dirty up the place!
[ooc]if there's one thing she's not, its charasmatic :)
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[b]"Right, lets have a quick look around." Talon motions to Hannya as they exit through the door that appears to gain entry into the heart of the home.
Elwyn is looking for the basement, though he will do his best to hide his intentions, whether trap door, door under the stairs, etc. To that end, and concealed entrance ror room.
Perception:
Stealth:
[b]"Right, lets have a quick look around." Talon motions to Hannya as they exit through the door that appears to gain entry into the heart of the home.
Elwyn is looking for the basement, though he will do his best to hide his intentions, whether trap door, door under the stairs, etc. To that end, and concealed entrance ror room.
Perception: d20+9
Stealth: d20+8
OOC:
Harboth resists the urge to show Auntie his favorite "grubby finger" and follows Elwyn and Jubei.
Are there any other caretakers? Do we have an idea of whether there really are more cats than children?
Harboth will look for Baltwin's room and for any signs of exploitation.
1d20+8
I don't have the guide with me here at work, so I'll get back to you on your check.
As far as Cats vs Children, you can't really tell, she just seems to love cats....I'm guessing it's Crazy Cat Lady Syndrome myself. Had a lady not to far from us growing up like that...had to tear the house down after the cats destoryed it. You dont' see signs of that here, when you check in on the kids they are normal kids (except for the sick ones, but they seem to be all in various stages of recovery).
Elwyn: You find several little stashes of curatives from several different charities, she seems to be stock piling.
Rachel:
"Oh yes, she takes very good care of us. Taking in sick boys and girls from the neighborhood who she heals before sending them back home. For the rest of us, she gives us a place to stay and keeps us safe. She can be mean, but shes old..." the little girl says the last in a whisper, not wanting to offend the old woman. "Then sometimes she sends us out to work for the neighbors, helping to clean houses and take care of small things for the older people in the area. It helps to pay for everything we need she says, and we don't mind, it gets us out and we can play on the way there and back"
Rachel leans towards the little girl, "Does she ever do anything wrong? Like hit any of the children?"
Looking up at the tall woman like she must be crazy she replies "Well of course, if someone gets mouthy they get a swat, but as long as everyone minds thier manners then everything is fine." Coming closer to where you stand with the child Auntie chimes in "You run alone little one, turn to Rachel she says "I may not be their parent, but I takes care of these little ones all the same. No I don't raise my hand to 'em, 'cept them that don't know how to treat thier elders, and even then I don't hurts 'em, just startle 'em a bit with a quick swat!" she declairs, genuanelly offended at the thought.
Peering up and down at the two of you Auntie says "Why? Your not much of a caregiver, are you? How about I go and give everyone upstairs the best care those little vials can give, everyone gets better right away....oh, but wait, whats this? Little Timmy fell down a well and he's being rushed here for care....He really needs one of those vials that some kid witht he sniffles used up....oh, sorry Timmy, I'll do my best, but little sally there had a cold and she needed to not have a stuffy nose more than you needed to walk again. Ha! you'd like that wouldn't you?" she chastises you,
Bluff:
Harboth: Getting back to my earlier post, your roll revealed nothing of note.
Elwyn Stares at her for a second - trying to catch her eyes.
Untrained Sense Motive: d20+0
Hmm ...
Elwyn's search around the house reveals little of note, the woman lives within her modest means, no real finery in the home, just lots of kids and cats.
As you wander the house one of the older children comes in and gives to Auntie a purse, "From the Panders, for the months work. They'd like me to come extra next week."
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Perhaps its something to do with the cats, ask the children about the cats, could she be using the medicine to change them into cats? Are the cats magical? Elwyn wonders at Rachel.
Perception on the cats - anything wierd:
"Auntie - what happens to the grown children, are they adopted, where do they go?"
My apologies, didn't mean to ignore you. She is not magical, just an old woman.
As for the cats, they are cats for the most part. Except for one, it has a very faint magical aura about it, very similar to your Razor. talking to the children about being turned into cats gets you laughed at, and you here giggles from upstairs as the story moves about the orphanage/clinic.
[ooc]OOC: on a side note, if you guys feel you have enough on the place you can drop off your box and just report what you've found out about the place to the Temple later.
On a total side note, it was:
1) shes a drunk
2) she's stockpiling the donations, and actually sells them on the black market
3) she's renting out the kids, she tells them its to pay for the stay/costs, but shes padding the bill to pay for her retirement.
As far as the children, she takes care of them. treats the injured and the sick, keeps them safe and healthy, and the children generally like her. Shes strict, but she's there 'Auntie'.
You can report on 1 for sure, and give a hunch on option 3, but you have no proof. As for option 2, she's just saving the better meds for the worst hurt (as far as your all concerned).
Elwyn: As you travel near the Grand Lodge, you once again pick up on someone watching you. It doesn't appear to be the same person, and you quickly lose him in the press of people on the streets, but your sure he was watching your small band of travelers.
Tasks left to complete: Visit the Pickled Imp in The Docks, or the Osirian's in the Wise Quarter.
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As I recall, at the Pickled Imp we were to meet someone named Guarela, Kuaril...Kuarela? Something like that, and he had something for us to pick up - books, maybe?
As for that old bag back there, I don't like her much, but it seems to me that all we can do is tell the Temple the facts about what we did and did not see, and let them sort her out.
The Pickled Imp:
This creepy shop contains myriad odds and ends, most bereft of any discernible use. A number of malformed creatures and creature parts bob in jars on a long, prominent shelf, a timy fetal devil centered in this macabre lineup. The shopkeeper, a greasy-haired Varisian with a thin mustache, shouts from behind the cluttered counter:
"Ah yes, I see the Pathfinders have arrived. I'm glad Ambrus was able to lend a few of his new recruits to help me. Please come in and let me tell you what I need."
Looking around as if to be absolutely certain no customers are browsing the aisles of knock-off Thuvian burial urns or supposed Azlanti porcelain, he begins again.
"Well met. I am Guaril Karela. A friend of mine has a warehouse near here and he received a parcel on behalf of me and some of my associates, but there's a problem. See, Master Gelbane had to leave town in a hurry and our shipment is still waiting at his warehouse. Rumor is he ended up in trouble with the law and the place was seized. I heard tell from someone down at the docks that some creep was snooping around his warehouse just the other night, so I want to make sure nothing of mine was taken. He keeps all kinds of things, from beer to nails, in that old pelican, but every now and then he stores something really special. This is one of those cases.
"There's a big crate marked with three crows arranged in a triangle. Inside that crate is a smaller container with a few books and papers in it. That's the only parcel I'm interested in, and as far as I'm concerned, you can help yourself to the rest of the crate. Honestly, anything else you want in the place too. I'm sure the once things get sorted out, the city will seize most everything else anyway.
"My Associates and I often work wtih the Pathfinders when it comes to special relics and documents, getting them in and out of ports and across borders where the authorities ask to many questions. Most people don't realize what they have and frankly many don't deserve to have it, so sometimes we help take the goods off their hands. If things work out well and you get this done, I'd be glad to talk with you more and help you out with any future endeavors, as long as you help me out too. I'm good at returning favors, trust me."
With that Guaril waits to see if you have any questions, if not, he shoos you to the door and toward the warehouse in question.
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In response to Rachel's whisper earlier: I know, I saw the same thing. Here's what I suggest; the next time we leave I'll sneak away from the group and then follow him. After a few minutes you double back at some point along the path with only a couple of exits and we'll see if we can't corner him and ask him a few questions. If we can't maybe I can get a better look at him or see where he goes when he's not following us.
When the time comes, Stealth (to slip away):
At the shop:
Elwyn looks the man up and down and thinks to himself, well he's quick to let us in on the whole racket.
We'd be happy to help, any reason to think anyone else might know about your special package?
Untrained sense motive: