"You want to know about Lady Baltwin? She's a good sort. We've had tea and played cards on her sittin' porch countless times. Always good company she is. She often cheats though. I've never had any trouble outta her or the kids she takes care of. Though some strange fellows come about an' whisper in her ear and palm her small bags. Money, I suppose. Otherwise a fine lady, indeed," Bonto adds quickly.
Bonto looks at Simon with hardened eyes. "No, I don't know them nor do I know why she's taking money from them. She is a good woman, but..." Bonto hesitates for a moment. "All I can tell you is that they are shady characters and I really don't know what kind of business she's mixed up in."
Bonto gazes across the street to Baltwin's residence. He is clearly discomforted. He turns back to the group.
"You'd best get along with your business, whatever it may be."
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"Thank you for your time Bonto."
Simon makes his way back out to the street to join the rest of the group. When everyone is gathered together, he states.
"Everyone I have spoken with states Gilga is a good woman. However, all have also noticed that she has some shady thing going on as well. She apparently has some sort of alcohol problem, sends this kids away whenever she has certain company, and has been taking money from some shady types. I wanted to all to be on the up-and-up on this before we knock on the door. I don't think anything bad is going to happen, but its always good to be in the know before you walk into something.
He then asks.
"Any comments or opinions before we speak with Gilga?"
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Elross thinks to himself about what Simon has collected. When Cedrick mentions spending time with the children, Elross again remembers his brothers. "Think I'll go with you this time Simon," he states coldly. I don't want to be emotionally unstable should something happen, he neglets to add. Spreading a smirk across his face, he playfully nudges Simon. "Don't want my weapons to scare the little ones, right?"
- Whatever information you have gathered is hearsay, you'll need proof.
- You have no authority in your investigation, so please don't use that line against Baltwin.
You may proceed :)
You see a group of three human children shooting marbles. As soon as you approach, they drop their marbles and scurry behind the corner of the house. One of them stares at you with a mixture of fear and wonder. He swallows hard, but makes no other movement.
A short moment later, a old hag of a woman appears at the door. Her appearance is nothing short of frightening and she reeks of alcohol. She looks at your group disdainfully, then returns her attention to Simon. "What can I do for you?"
Baltwin sees Cedrick trying to befriend the children. "Get away from those kids, you oaf! For all I know, you could be trying to kidnap and eat them!"
The child staring at Cedrick quickly disappears around the other side of the house at the sound of her voice.
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Aesantiel say very mildly, but in a very factual way that doesn't invite comment or contradiction, "That was extremely rude. It was a bad example for the children under your care. It could be taken as offensive, or even intentionally insulting." Aesantiel does not move, and her expression does not convey any intention to continue. She has simply stated a fact that needed stating.
Baltwin decides to redirect her ire towards the elf. "Oh, like you know much better, you tree-dweller? Your kind just thinks we humans are beneath you. I have raised my brothers and sisters, my own children and these poor orphans. I think I know what I'm doing. The day I take child-rearing advice from a pointy-eared know-it-all is the day that I let a filthy half-orc babysit."
She smirks cruelly while gesturing vaguely towards Cedrick.
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Aesantiel bends forward and takes a long, lingering sniff. "Whiskey. Oldlaw. My advice is that for the price of a bottle of Oldlaw, I would instead feed 5 orphans for a month. Is that poor advice, or do you owe good Master Cedrick an apology and an invitation to babysit?" Aesantiel's tone is still conversational and reasonable. It would only be with a longer acquaintance with Aesantiel that the listener would be aware of the underlying singing, as of unsheathed steel.
Baltwin points a shaking finger at Aesantiel. "I make sure the orphans are cared for, that's all I am called to do. So are you here to dispense advice or have you come for something more worth my time?"
"Oh..." Baltwin says, after a slight pause. "Bring it inside then. And wipe your feet!"
She turns and enters the house.
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Simon follows with the medicine.
"Look Miss Baltwin, I believe we got off on the wrong foot here. My name is Simon and we are here from the church of Sarenrae to deliver medicine for these children. My companions and I are a bit concerned though. You see, on the way here, we have heard some rather disconcerting things. We have only heard one side of the story, would you mind sharing yours with us?
"Ah, I see. Well, come inside and I'll make some tea. We'll have a nice chat then," Baltwin says in a sweeter tone.
She escorts you to some old, but functional couches and motions for you all to sit. She eyes Cedrick and Aesantiel with some trepidation, but says nothing. She goes into the kitchen for a few moments and arrives with some tea in fine porcelain cups. She is a dignified hostess and serves you all quickly and well. She finally settles herself into a worn sitting chair. She takes a bottle from a small cart sitting next to her seat. She pours a healthy dose into her tea before offering any to your group.
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Rather than sit at the couch, Elross paces the room looking at pictures, glancing out the windows, or simply watching the old woman. The quick change in mood has him confused, guess I was wrong about the introduction. Picking up his cup, declining what he assumes to be whiskey, he takes a deep whiff of the tea. If only she had some biscuits and jam to go with this, he thought while his stomach agreed.
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Simon graciously accepts the tea and places it on the table next to him.
"Now to get to the heart of this matter. My employer requested that I drop this medicine off for the children. She also required me to look into a few rumors that have been going around about this orphanage. First off, I want to say that I am not here to incriminate anyone. I am here to ensure the brightest future possible for all the young ones that are here."
"I have heard from many people that you turn the children out once in the morning and once in the evening in order to do dealings with some less than upstanding people. I have also been informed that you buy and consume large amounts of expensive..."
He points to the bottle she just poured from.
"...alcohol and are too inebriated to be caring for these children properly. Now, I will admit that I do not know exactly what you are going through. You may have your reasons, whether they be health problems, money problems, or other issues that need to be resolved by these less than scrupulous means. That is fine, and I do not condemn you for having to do those things. All I ask is that if these things are dangerous, or could possibly hurt the innocents that you currently surround yourself with, that you take a step back and let someone else come in until you get these problems resolved. Remember, you are dealing with the future here, everyone future, and we don't want to ruin that."
Baltwin gets an incredulous look on her face. "Ha! Seems most days you need it if you want to make through the day in this house. These children are killing me."
She composes herself quickly and lowers her tone. "I suppose you're right. I have been a drinker for quite a long time, that's my only fault. I want to do these children right. I offer up myself for guidance and recovery. You can tell the Silver Crusade that I'll be living clean from now on."
Aesantiel:
Simon:
Krygmar:
Elross:
Cedrick:
Gilga assumes as forlorn a look as she can manage. "But, good sirs," she says, deliberately ignoring everyone but Simon. "Drinking is my only vice. There is nothing else going on here, I can assure you."
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"Simon, I think perhaps Ms. Baltwin and I should have a private conversation, woman to woman. Perhaps some of the rest of you should interview the children, and perhaps others review the children's accommodations. Yes, I think Ms. Baltwin and I can productively engage each other privately for some little while here." Aesantiel's voice is still quiet, but she has added more steel to her tone. Although she's addressing Simon, her eyes are unwavering and locked onto Ms. Baltwin's, attempting to pin the woman in place, like an insect transfixed by a mounting needle.
Gilga bristles. "I don't think you should meet with the children. Some of them have quite contagious sicknesses. This house may not look like much, but it is quite good enough for caring for these children."
She pours another round of tea for everyone and urges the group to continue sitting.
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Elross focuses on some people walking outside the window, and seems to have missed some parts of the conversation. It's a good thing Simon and Aesantiel are doing the talking, he thought to himself, I've obviously missed something. He neglects the second cup of tea and instead leans against the entrance to the room, waiting to see what the group does.
Baltwin glances irately at Simon, then at Krygmar. "Perhaps..." she concedes with a small hiss. "Very well, Sir Healer, I will take you to the children. Of course, I will accompany you."