GM Henry Fortuna's First Steps (Sessions 1-2) [Completed] (Inactive)

Game Master Signore di Fortuna

"Hey, wait up!" a voice calls out as you approach the Eastgate district.

The man in front of you huffs and puffs a bit. "Zeriah Bindel, inquisitor of Sarenrae, at your service. Zadrian sent me along to help you fellows out. She thought you looked a little lacking in the group."

He extends his hand earnestly and looks over the group. "Wow, a bear! Bet he eats a lot."

Kurth shakes the newcomer's hand.
"Yes, we had some ... disappearances. It is good to have you with us now."

"Greetings Zeriah, it will great to have another along in our adventures. Don't worry about the disappearances. I'm fairly sure it wasn't the bears fault!

You enter the Eastgate district and find some likely people to talk to.

Illias, roll a Diplomacy or Knowledge(Local) check to try and find someone likely to tell you about Gilga Baltwin.

Zeriah finds a bench and sits down. He pulls a pipe and a pouch of tobacco from his backpack. After a long drag, he waves you off with a hearty grin.

"Talking really isn't my thing. I'm more of a listener. Go ahead. I'll be right here if you need me."

Luthor meets up with the rest of the party, once everyone has done some talking to the locals.
I hear she is a straight up lady for the most part. It appears she supports those who are loyal to her.

Illias looks around trying to find someone with useful about the Headmistress.

Diplomacy 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

@GM If it's currently past 9 and the children are out and about in the town I'd like to find some of them and ask them what they think of her and how they are treated. If i need it: Diplomacy:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Zeriah taps his pipe on his boot. He smirks to himself as he pushes himself off the bench.

"Guess I'll pitch in too."

Diplomacy:1d20 ⇒ 16

As you head towards Baltwin's residence, Zeriah and Illias fruitlessly search for any of her charges running about. Finding none, you finally come to a simple but elegant townhouse. There are three children shooting marbles in the yard and a few cats yowling on the porch as you approach.

Illias walks up to the house and knocks on the door, Titan by his side.

Kurth thanks Travost and Tirelle for their help and says goodbye.

He finds Illias (and the others?) near the townhouse.

He whispers "This must be the place. The people I talked to said that the woman has a lot of cats." After a moment he adds "They also said that she sends the children away into town every morning."

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Are the children just playing? Or are they guarding the place, pretending to be playing? How old are they, by the way? Are there any adults watching over the children?

A moment after Illias knocks, a hag of a woman answers the door.

Heal Checks, if you like.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

Heal Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Heal 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

What is Illias doing? We were not supposed to talk to her until we find out her secrets.
"Uhm, we are here to ... adopt a child? But we haven't agreed on ... which ... hair ... color it should have. Please excuse us for a moment."

Kurth takes Illias aside and whispers "What's your plan? We aren't supposed to talk to her yet."

Zeriah mutters to Kurth. "I'll handle this one."

Since no one said they were carrying the supplies, Zeriah will do it.

He walks up to Gilga Baltwin, leans a forward a little bit so that his holy symbol of Sarenrae hangs out. "Yes, ma'am. I am Zeriah, an inquisitor of Sarenrae. My group and I have come to deliver these supplies to you for the Silver Crusade. We were also asked to see if your orphanage is on the...up and up."

Intimidate:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Gilga's Sense Motive:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Gilga barks a laugh. "Then you must be the crappiest inquisitor that they've ever let out of that temple."

Gilga snaps her fingers. "Well, you might as well come inside and have some tea. Except for him."

She points at Titan and speaks to Illias. "I'm not having that animal running around inside my house. It's worse than a half-orc. So you either tie him up outside or you can stay out here with him, you hobo."

Zeriah shrugs and goes over to Illias. "See if you can talk to those kids over there while the rest of us keep the old bat busy."

He hefts the supplies and walks into the house.

Kurth is slightly confused, but eventually he shrugs and follows Zeriah inside.

While being led inside, Kurth tries to look around inconspicuously.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Luthor leans over and whispers in Kurth's ear,
I think I have an idea of her secrets, and it has to do with a nasty habit of alcohol that she is likely trying to hide. It might also explain her mood here today.

"Interesting ...", Kurth replies in a low voice.

He thinks about this for a while, before he adds
"Do you think that makes her unworthy of help in Ollysta's eyes?"

Illias, being left outside approaches the children in the yard and asks them about their lives at the orphanage and of Gilga.
"Looks like a fun game that you're playing there, we don't have it where I come from, can you explain how to play?"
As the children play Illias inquires further "So how do all of you like it here? Does the headmistress treat you well when you are at the home?"

If needed Diplomacy 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

"Kurth, I am not really sure."

Would we know if Ollysta considers Gilga's drinking a problem?

"And what do you think of it, as a worshipper of Cayden?"

Luthor, alcoholism and child care are two things that most people wouldn't like to see mixed.

Gilga brings you into a sitting room and gestures for you to sit on the old but functional furniture. The interior of the house is clean, but it is decorated in such a manner that you feel like you've stepped back in time.

"Let me put a kettle on and we can chat for a bit."

Gilga hobbles into the kitchen, leaving you alone for a few moments.

Perception check:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Zeriah looks over the room. "It looks much like my grandparents' home. That isn't really a compliment..."

He settles onto a lumpy couch before Gilga returns.

Illias decides to have a walk around the grounds to check the state of things.
Perception 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

"Thank you, madam!"

Kurth strolls around the room while waiting for the tee.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

"You shouldn't speak in that way. These quick changing fashions are just a symtom of the decadency that has befallen us. We need to show respect to the old," he scolds Zeriah.

"So far, I haven't found anything that would make her untrustworthy. However, her drinking and a Home for Recovery is interesting. As a follower of Cayden it reminds me a bit of my upbringing. However, I am a bit clueless to know what the Silver Crusade would say about such things."

"So, how do we proceed?"

Zeriah leans back. "The Silver Crusade does not look well upon those who give in to vices while trying to take care of children. Cayden may be a god who enjoys drinking, but, I assure you, Sarenrae does not. Perhaps we keep the conversation polite and maybe distract her while one of us and pokes around?"

Gilga returns with the tea and serves you all elegantly. She settles herself into a large armchair and takes a bottle from a small table on her side. She pours herself a healthy dose before offering it to you.

Zeriah waves his hand in refusal.

Luthor will strike some conversation about one thing he knows well... drinking. Perhaps she has a good vintage of scotch or perhaps a fine red wine from the arbors of Taldor.

Gilga makes it clear that her only alcoholic interest is whiskey. "Fine wines are for fops and scotch is for folk who are too good to be a proper drunk. I'll take whiskey any day, any time."

When in Absalom, ...

Kurth will have some whiskey in his tea.

Gilga pours Kurth a shot of whiskey into his tea. She sits back and groans slightly.

"Oh, please a shot for me as well. Its been a long day already."

Gilga happily obliges Luthor and adds a bit of whiskey to his tea.

"Thank you."

Kurth takes a sip of tea.

"How many children do you have here, madam?"

"Oh, I'm taking care of about 8 or 9 right now. Can't keep track of the little buggers. As soon as one leaves, I get another."