Lady Zadrian nods to Syllyn. "Of course. See my attendant outside and she will ensure you receive the appropriate services. Anything further?"
Feel free to attempt to gather any information you want about the orphanage or Auntie Baltwin along your path. Make any rolls and view the spoilers below if your check meets the listed DC.
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Syllyn is completely absorbed on observing the human culture as they navigate the streets.
Why is that man carrying his child around his neck like some sort of ornament? Did that woman just dump her soiled water out of the window? I don't think she even looked. What if it had hit someone? Why are those kids smacking that stuffed ball about with those wooden sticks? It must be a game. They sure are laughing a lot. Strange sounds they make when they laugh, and each one so different.
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Wish I had Swift Grey, these giant centipedes creep me out. Rerois walks along, chatting with the shopkeeps along the way. "Baldwin's neighbors mentioned she sends the children into town during the day. Something about it seems a bit suspicious, but I'm not certain. She also has a taste for fine drink."
After spending some time gathering information about Auntie Baltwin and her establishment along the way, you finally arrive at your destination. 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 floors. A few children take care of chores, while coughs and sneezes softly erupt from the children’s dormitories upstairs.
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A few children take care of chores, while coughs and sneezes softly erupt from the children’s dormitories upstairs.
That's different. A new type of laugh perhaps?
Syllyn will curiously wander about the place observing this new human sub-culture. Staring at kids at play mostly. At one point he observes one boy rhythmically tapping tapping a bench with a stick of some sort. Encouraged by this musical behavior he joins in by setting up his own counter-rhythm with his sword on whatever is available.
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"There is always time, Sune. These are the foundations of society, and a foundation with neglected stones will crumble in a storm." Turning back to the children, he continues. "My name is Rerois, I'm a soldier who has come to drop off some medicine for your ill siblings. I also wanted to meet Miss Baltwin and commend her on her duties. She certainly seems to be taking good care of you. Are you learning a trade at all? One of the neighbors mentioned seeing you in town, is Miss Baltwin introducing you to possible masters?"
The boys playing marbles look up from their game to see Rerois and Syllyn standing nearby. They openly stare at the nagaji. "Look at that lizardman!" "Wow!" "Do you think he's going to eat John?!" However, they see Syllyn sit down and begin to tap along with the boy John, making an interesting rhythm.
When Rerois approaches they turn to stare at the heavily armored man. "A soldier?! Neat! Who do you fight for? Are you a knight?! Where's your horse?!" Numerous questions are sent towards him rapid-fire from the three enthralled boys, who seem to have missed Rerois last few questions about learning a trade.
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"Do you think he's going to eat John?!"
"That depends on whether he is more fun to talk to than eat!"
After saying that he smiles and looks at John. He always heard that you are supposed to smile when trying to make a good impression on a human, or after telling a joke, but it never seems to work for him. Go figure.
"Weeeellll? What would you like to talk about?"
While he is saying this he continues tapping more and more intricate and fascinating rhythms.
John simply stares at Syllyn, not quite sure what to make of the nagaji; however, after a few moments of open-mouthed, wide-eyed staring he speaks. "Uhhh... I dunno. What would you like to talk about?"
After a few moments, the door opens slightly and an old woman's face can be seen through the crack, peering suspiciously at Sune and Juhnavi. "What do you want?" Juhnavi explains that they are there to deliver the medicine. "Well, then, why didn't you say so sooner? Please, come in." Auntie Baltwin opens the door the rest of the way and steps to one side.
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John simply stares at Syllyn, not quite sure what to make of the nagaji; however, after a few moments of open-mouthed, wide-eyed staring he speaks. "Uhhh... I dunno. What would you like to talk about?"
After a few moments, the door opens slightly and an old woman's face can be seen through the crack, peering suspiciously at Sune and Juhnavi. "What do you want?" Juhnavi explains that they are there to deliver the medicine. "Well, then, why didn't you say so sooner? Please, come in." Auntie Baltwin opens the door the rest of the way and steps to one side.
"Sorry, John, looks like I have to go. Maybe we can talk later and we will have an opportunity to learn about each others cultures."
Syllyn makes his way into the room.
Auntie Baltwin takes a step back as Sune rushes through the door. "Well I never!" She seems about to say more when the suddenly spots Syllyn and Golangar enter the room. Instead she gasps and takes a few steps back. "What are these monsters doing in my home?" She looks at the multitude of cats around and then gives Syllyn a defiant look. "Don't you dare think about eating any of my cats! I may be old, but I'll wallop you a good one!" She threatens, shaking a finger at the nagaji before turning back to Sune. "You have some supplies to deliver?"
The boys listen to Rerois with rapt attention, especially when he speaks of attaining his position as a cavalier! "Maybe one day I'll be able to become a warrior like you! Auntie Baltwin tells the best bedtime stories about knights and dragons and wizards! That's usually the only time she's very nice..." "Yeah, but she makes a really good meat-pie!" "OH yeah! Her food is better than the food my mommy used to cook..."
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Sune, oblivious and hurried as always, says "Yes, we have supplies to deliver. But before we do, please detail your operations here as quickly as possible."
Seeing her reaction to her companions, the sylph says "The planes are a wide and varied place. I have seen much of them. In some places, they would think humans strange," she muses. "But enough of that tangent. Tell us about your operations!"
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No cats. Why? They eat just about anything, these humans. I've even seen some of them eat out of garbage cans! But no cats!? Some humans eat cats, I'm almost sure of it. It seems that the humans in one town will eat one thing but another, and humans in a different town will do the opposite, all the while acting as if that is the most natural thing in the world but the other town is disgusting. I'm glad I'm a Nagaji.
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"We'd actually like to talk to you, Miss - or is it Mrs? Baltwin, just about the orphanage and whether the charity you're receiving from the Silver Crusade is doing enough for these little ones. While we're at it, I think I'd like to read your Harrow as well, if you're willing," Juhnavi says, showing Baltwin the battered old varisian harrow deck she picked up in a series of hair-raising adventures in Ustalav.
Auntie Baltwin scowls at Sune's impetuousness, but the strange lizardman's comments draw her full ire. "I don't cook my cats you savage beast! Why... I should ask you how you cook the eggs of your babies! Do you prefer them poached or over-easy?!" The group appears on the verge of losing the woman's patience until...
"While we're at it, I think I'd like to read your Harrow as well, if you're willing,"
Auntie Baltwin whips her head around to look at Juhnavi, licking her lips nervously for a moment. "My... my Harrow? Well... I, I suppose that would be fine, young lady." She shoots another glance at Syllyn and Golangar. "Just please ask your 'companions' to not leave any unsightly stains on my furniture." She crooks a finger and issues one last warning to Syllyn. "And don't you dare eat any of my cats!" She takes a seat, but then turns and whistles towards the kitchen area. "Britania, put on the kettle! And find some of those seed-cakes!"
The boys listen intently to Rerois' story with rapt-attention! "He tells stories like that old wizard that works in the house in the Ivy district whose house we clean!" One of the boys whispers, before being nudged by the other two. "Quiet! Don't interrupt!"
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Juhnavi examines her Harrow deck, and considers Auntie Baltwin. "Let's sit, this table will do nicely."
She glances at the others, trying to send them a silent message. Now's your chance to look around, talk to the children, while I keep her occupied! she thinks, hoping they'll catch on.
"Your suit is the suit of Wisdom, Auntie. Unless you have a particular question you'd like answered, I'll do a reading based on that suit."
Auntie Baltwin looks at Juhnavi sheepishly. "I don't have any questions, so that'd be fine dear." Her attitude seems to have changed drastically as a young girl brings out a tray with several tea cups, a plate stacked with seed cakes, and a steaming tea pot. "Tea?" The young girl asks each of you.
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"Thank you, dear," the vudrani woman says as she takes the tea.
Juhnavi takes the nine cards of the Wisdom suit from the deck, and shuffles them, then lays them out on the table for Baltwin to choose one. She does, and it is The Eclipse.
"The Eclipse. This card suggests you have been feeling doubts, maybe wondering whether there's anything more you could be doing for these children? I'm sure it's not easy, and I'm sure you have to have a few drinks by the end of the day. Or something else is causing you to feel a loss of purpose, perhaps. Well, that's your role card. The rest of the cards will be interpreted in light of that."
Juhnavi shuffles the cards again and lays them out in a grid of three by three.
"First, the past," the mystic says, turning over the left-most column of cards. She raises her eyebrows -- the cards are (top to bottom) The Lost, The Publican, and The Eclipse.
"A true match, the role card, and an opposite match," she observes. She sets aside The Publican, which is not any kind of a match, and considers the two other cards. "The Eclipse shows in the past, a true match, and your role, Auntie. You've had these feelings of doubt a long time, I feel, and I don't doubt that the drinking has been going on a long time as well. All the same, you've long felt a clarity of mind, the opposite of what this card shows," she taps The Lost, "since it's misaligned, and you're no fool, certainly." She puts the two cards together, as part of the spread.
Next she turns over the middle column, murmuring, "The Present,", revealing the Midwife, the Carnival, and the Queen Mother.
"True match for the midwife," Juhnavi says, setting aside the other two. "This card can be seen both as a reflection of your current position -- a sort midwife who helps these children be born into adulthood -- and as a spiritual, metaphorical position. New information is coming to light that was previously hidden. New arrivals have come -- that could be us, in fact. This is a positive thing, as this card is correctly aligned. Even if this birth, that is, the coming out of hidden information, is a painful thing, it gives new life and freedom."
"Finally, the future," she says, turning over the final column. It contains The Winged Serpent, The Mute Hag, and The Owl.
"Only a single partial alignment," Juhnavi observes, setting aside the Mute Hag and the Owl. "That means that the future is far less settled than it could be -- it depends very much on your choices. The Winged Serpent is a powerful being, a champion of good. Your future depends in no small part on a powerful good being, but there's a twist, since it was a partial alignment. Interpreting this in light of the other cards, I think this card refers to Ollysta -- the silver crusader, who has been a constant source of charity to aid you and the children. Information is coming to light that will resolve one way or another your self-doubt, but only you choose what happens to it. Ollysta waits to receive your confession if you choose to give it." Juhnavi looks pointedly at Baltwin. Let her think the cards have told me about her, and not the gossips on the street, I hope!