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So this Auntie Baldwin likes to drink, makes the orphanage´s children work it what look like illicit jobs. Oh, and she even cheat in games.
She doesn´t look like she deserves Ollystria money.
With all be know now we could go back to Ollystria and tell her to not give more money. But I think we should impress our Captains, so any suggestion of how can we "change her live".
Besides let the Paladin hurt her for being a so bad person, of course.
With succesful questioning around the neighborhood, the team is at a point of delivering the information or checking out the place for themselves.
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"I agree Sele. Let's inspect this wretched leech living high off the children's backs and good folks' charity." Asami agrees with the paladin, even as she pronounces her already decided condemnation. "May be we can keep her busy while some of us conduct a thorough interview of the children and inspection of the place."
As such, the group headed for Aunty Baltwin's house.
On the way, the group ran into a peculiar merchant, who seemed to be captivated by Asami.
Nearly swarming with cats and children, this fine upper-class home appears to be clean and in good condition considering the number and ages of its inhabitants. Three young boys shoot marbles in the dirt near the side porch, and inside strewn toys and more cats lie about on the flors. A few children take care of chores, while coughs and sneezes softy
erupt from the children’s dormitories upstairs.
Some children are playing with marbles in a corner on the street in front of the house. One little girl, about the size of Fosco, stands looking with curious eyes at Asami and Keera.
"Huh? I'm coming, hold your horses."
The door to Aunty Baltwin's opens up, the old woman standing there. "Have you come for healing? I can take care of your wounds, so come on in."
Though being polite in this, she seemed slightly surprised by all the non-human visitors.
As she walks you to the livingroom, she asks already ;"What do i owe the visit to?"
The hag radiates evil. But it feels like the LE sort, and arrogance.
At least she doesn't radiate murderhobo.
"What? Are your motives as forked as your tongue? You here to rob an old frail woman?"
Now that she has a more careful look at the lot of you, her tongue becomes as sharp as Sele's blade as she leans on her cane.
"I must say, i hadn't expected a blue woman, a snake man, a treehugger (Keera), point-ear and a halfpint-kiddo to be knocking my door." Despite that, she rubs her chin. "But you two, she points at Nym and Fosco, somehow have the look of being gifted in magics, am i right? Probably your saving feature.".......
"Now speak up youngsters, what have you come for?"
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Hah. I am running around town with a rather strange lot, aren't I. Asami gets up from playing with the children and follows Aunty Baltwin into the house. "You can tend to our wounds?" Asami unconsciously scratches the rat bite as she makes conversation. "I did get bit by this oversized rat, and it itches a bit."
As she follows the group in, she looks around, trying to look for signs confirming or denying what the rumors said about her.
Asami doesn't spot anything peculiar as she follows Sele and Baltwin to the living room.
Sele and Asami at least are standing in the living room, with the scanning and receiving healing.
"Bitten by a rat deary? That is no problem. Hold still."
healed to Asami.
Aside from questioning, you can talk to the kids with diplomacy DC20 per kid.
Stealth & Perception checks to snoop around the house, opposed by Baltwin's perception.
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"Thank you for your kind words ma'am, but my gifts are paltry next to the eldritch might of this great and noble Elf. If you don't mind me, I'll talk to the ones more befitting my station." Fosco wanders off in search of kiddos.
Fosco finds some little boys playing marbles. "I've seen a three headed puppy. What have you seen?
One kid who shot the marble and misses his target, turns to Fosco as it was another's turn.
"Oi'a mister. I've seen a scadly cladded lady today, i 'ave, lost at games she said and went to the inn for new clothing. Why?"
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"Are you sure that's enough? I mean, it was a filthy rat. What if it was poisonous or diseased me or something? Can you double check just to make sure? I'd hate to keel over as I'm explaining to that stuffy ol' paladin how helpful you've been to me." Asami continues to engage the nice ol' lady, doing her best to buy time for the group.
Aunty Baltwin doesn't notice Nym snooping through the house.
Nym notices some empty bottles on the kitchen table. They smell like alcohol.
@ Asami; "No, girl, this will do. Why, you trying to stll time here? Which in itself reminds me, where did your snake-man friend go?"
She's suspicious of it.
"HEY! What are you doing heading for my kitchen? Get out of there or i'll call the guards for unauthorized tresspassing. You're limping, kind of, you bit by a rat too?"
The old hag's got broken blood vessels in the eyes and
nose, shaky hands, glassy eyes, and a fie sheen of sweat
on the woman.
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"I really did get bit bad by a rat! Oh, Sele? Don't mind him. He's just doing his job. You know, routine inspections and stuff. I'm telling you, that paladin at the Temple was all over us about making sure you have everything you need to do your job properly. Is there anything we need to report back to our paladin friend about?" Asami eyes the woman as she blabs on, looking for any signs of guilt of shifting eyes that may give away something incriminating.
Aunty Baltwin isn't buying the "routine"
"Young lady, that is NOT routine, eiher he gets back here or i'm REALLY calling the guard."
As Asami drops the words of the paladin, she drops her a laugh.
"Pah, haha. I work all day and provide board and shelter for these kids, that is no cheap endeavour. The charity donations help provide for them and for my healthcare for others. You can tell your paladin friend i've worked many years providing for these orphans after my own kids moved out and will keep caring for them and provide my care for as long as i can. Even though they drive me crazy at times."
The bloodshot eyes of a piss-drunk old woman look at Sele.
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"My lady it seems that you do look after the children but you are a drunkard and avarice has left a stain on your soul. I would be very suprised if that is not the least of your crimes. I shall not be recommending you for further donations. I may go as far as to recommend that your operation here be investigated, maybe if you clean up your act this will not be necessary"
@Sele: "I....suppose i am fond of a glass or two, but that's not preventing me from doing what i do."
@Fosco: "She feeds us yeah, we also's got a bed. But we's bein' made to work for her. Amy's doin' work as a little maid, she is, over at that posh house across the street. We don't make money though."
Meanwhile, Keera and Nym attempt to quietly search the rest of the house, but some loose stairs and a roc companion prevent the hearing of Aunty Baltwin.
"What? Whoever is going up my stairs, you get down RIGHT NOW! I heal, but i'm not going to let you rob me. I hear the bigbird too, so the treehugger's also trying to sneak around, rude lot. Guards, GUARDS! INTRUSION!"
She takes a couple of steps back from Asami and Sele.
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Sele uses his racial hypnotism on her
Hypnotic Gaze (Sp): The nagaji's gaze is so intense it stops others in their tracks. Once per day, it can attempt to hypnotize a single target, as per the spell hypnotism (caster level equal to the nagaji's Hit Dice). The DC of this effect is equal to 11 + the nagaji's Charisma modifier. The effects of the hypnotic gaze only last a single round. This racial trait replaces serpent's sense.
Hypnotism 1/day DC 14
School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level bard 1, sorcerer/wizard 1
Casting Time 1 round
Components V, S
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Area several living creatures, no two of which may be more than 30 ft. apart
Duration 2d4 rounds (D)
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes
Your gestures and droning incantation fascinate nearby creatures, causing them to stop and stare blankly at you. In addition, you can use their rapt attention to make your suggestions and requests seem more plausible. Roll 2d4 to see how many total HD of creatures you affect. Creatures with fewer HD are affected before creatures with more HD. Only creatures that can see or hear you are affected, but they do not need to understand you to be fascinated.
If you use this spell in combat, each target gains a +2 bonus on its saving throw. If the spell affects only a single creature not in combat at the time, the saving throw has a penalty of –2.
While the subject is fascinated by this spell, it reacts as though it were two steps more friendly in attitude. This allows you to make a single request of the affected creature (provided you can communicate with it). The request must be brief and reasonable. Even after the spell ends, the creature retains its new attitude toward you, but only with respect to that particular request.
A creature that fails its saving throw does not remember that you enspelled it.
"We are friends there is nothing to worry about you are perfectly safe we shall not rob you or hurt you"
"You...are..friendly...folk. Let me....get you....a whiskey?"....
"Uh...huh....." @.@
Arrival in 5 rounds.
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"Why, yes, whiskey please. You know, we just wanted to check up on the sick kids. We heard them upstairs when we were outside. In fact, would you mind showing us how they're doing?" Asami follows up, unsure why the hostess suddenly became so accomodating, but takes the chance nonetheless to speak loud enough to warn the not-so-stealthy lot that tried to head upstairs they'd be coming. The kitsune leans in as she speaks to Aunty Baltwin more softly. "Sorry about those rude friends of mine. They really have no manners. I'll make sure our paladin friend dresses them down. In private, of course. Wouldn't want to make a spectacle of it, you know."
Despite being busted in your snooping, you noticed some hidden staches of charity parcels.
A little girl, likely no more than 9 years looks up from playing with her doll.
"That's silly mister, there's only canals here."
Her friend of the same age chips in. "The money for work is taken by auntie Baltwin, we don't get pocket money :'( . More pretty the house, the more money, still no pocket money. While i saw mister merchant sell pretty children clothes for just 2gp each."
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"Oh! Then where'd they come from? Wouldn't you look nice in some lovely dresses. Or a suit of armor! Or both!" Fosco smiles at the girls and moves along.
Coming back to the matron, he notices some very sore feelings and he tries to calm matters down. "Friends, let's not pester this slave mistress anymore. She has enough problems organizing the children's workload and pawning the charitable gifts she gets just so she can feed the poor dears as well as keep up with the latest fashions."
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Nym also returns down the stairs, his evidence (the liquor bottle) in hand. "It seems she needs the extra coin to keep her habit up. Not sure someone who imbibes at this rate should be keeping house with a bunch of tots...This seems more than enough for that priestess of yours to know that Auntie Baltwin is up to no good. Can we get back now? I don't want to be late for tea..."
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I´ll get that whisky thanks. And a little bird seed for Alacorta, if you have.
Se goes downstaris and stumble into Sele, whispering there´s proof upstairs. Want to do something about?
Then, she hears Fosco coming to calm the things down. But we´re only taking a drink with this charming woman, don´t you want to join us? She says to obtain a few moments in order to let the Paladin decide if he wants to confront the woman or go and report the Captain.
@.@...@.o....o.o.......O.O!
"Eh, wha...what was that? What happened just now?
Out with you lot! You'll be lucky if the guards don't come in before you get out." She swings her trusty cane in a (to you obviously not) threatening way.
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The halfling's eyes light up at the mention of smoothing things over with alcohol. He turns his countenance to the lady of the house. "Don't mind if I do!" He says greedily and takes a swig of the bottle. "Ah, that's nice. Thank you for your hospitality!" He handed the bottle back to the matron. The usually somewhat subdued halfling had a bit of a spring in his step as he followed the paladin.
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"Ooh, got to go. Thanks for your hospitality." Asami quickly downs the rest of her drink, stands with a quick nod to the Auntie, and rushes out the door to join the paladin. "Did you find something on the woman then?" The swashbuckler pesters the nagaji to share all of her findings as the group heads back toward the Temple.
With auntie Baltwin alone again (aside from the cats) back in her house talking to the guards who arrived after you left, you head back to the temple. The paladin looks up with a questioning look.
"Hail pathfinders, what results has your investigation yielded?"