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Jezebel smiles at the children, noticing that they checked to see who was around before talking, and asks,
"Would you be more comfortable talking in the carriage, where no one can overhear you? We could take a trip around the block if you like."
"What is Auntie like?"
"How does she treat you?"
"Does she do any bad things, or unusual things?"
"What does she do with all of you?"
"Do you know what she does with the donations people give her, stuff like this medicine here?"
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Azeban stayed silent for most of the trip, thinking on Guaril's offer. He listened intently but let the others handle talking to Ollystra.
When they arrive at the estate, he follows them to question the children but remains mostly uninterested. Quickly tiring of standing, he approaches the old man sitting on the porch.
"Would you mind if I sit here?" Azeban asks, gesturing at the empty space on the porch beside the man.
Hekra and Galia stay back and keep a look out while Anders, Jezebel and Toshizo question the children.
The boys look a little scared as Jezebel suggests the coach. " No thanks miss. We'd get in trouble. "
The boys take the silver coins from Anders and quickly pocket them. " Auntie Baltwin is ok, " says one kid while the other nods along and then adds " She can get mean and she smells funny but it's better than living on the streets and she did get rid of my cough... " and the first kid pipes up again " Yeah there's food here too. "
When Jezebel asks whether Autie Baltwin does bad things or unusual things the boys shrug " She has lots of cats. Does that count? " and in reply to her question about what Baltwin does with the children they say " Well, some of the other kids have homes to go back to. They come here so Auntie Baltwin can heal them and then they go back home. She gets jobs for the older kids that stay here, I never see 'em with any coins though.
Looking at the medicine they shake their heads. [B]" Ain't ever seen anything like that before? " and " I didn't know she got any donations..."
Azeban wanders up to the old mans porch asking for a seat. The old man nods at a chair next to him and says " The name's Trebb, What's all this then? " he says gesturing at the coach and the group talking to the children.
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Azeban sits down gratefully in the offered chair. "My name is Azeban. We're here on Ma'am Ollystra Zadrian's request," he explains, "and we're to deliver some medicine to 'Auntie Baltwin'." Azeban gestures at the house across the street.
"But we've to first find out if she would use the aid she would receive properly. Hence why the others are talking to the children." Azeban smiles at Trebb. "I would also be grateful if you could tell me about her."
" Oh, you know the usual types of things. " The eldest boy answers Toshizo " She sends the girls to help merchants wives look after kids, cook and clean and she sends the boys to labouring and stuff. I'll be old enough to work next summer. " He looks less than enthusiastic about that prospect.
Across the road Trebb nods as Azeban speaks " A kind old woman, Lady Baltwin. Does wonders for the kids... wonders. The friendliest neighbour anyone could wish for, we've past many summer evenings drinking tea and playing cards on the portch over there. " he says with a far away look as he recalls some good times. He looks back at Azeban " Say would you like a drink? Lady Baltwin a keg of fine mead from Miltivis at the markets the other day while she was stocking up her own supplies. "
The boy shrugs " I think so. I heard her yelling at one of the older kids about how much food costs and stuff. "
The kids shake their heads. " We were pretty sick when we first came, Jax here was coughing so hard that blood was coming from his mouth, but Auntie Baltwin didn't ever give us any medicine. Right Jax? " The other boy speaks up again " Wait, there was that one girl who came in white as a sheet and breathin' real rapid, remember Auntie Baltwin gave her something out of a bottle. With my cough she just used to sit by my bedside and mutter. After a week I was all better. Now I'm lucky if she doesn't yell as soon as she sets eyes on me. " Suddenly there's a commotion from the second level. The boy look at each other and cringe. " Oops we were supposed to clean up there... We'd better go. Thanks for the money mister. " and unless someone grabs them they run up to the house and through the door.
You don't think they've been lying, they don't seem to be afraid of Auntie Baltwin until they think they'll be caught shirking on their chores.
Trebb gets up. " Not at all, Azeban, like I said it was a gift from Lady Baltwin for helping her fix her roof a couple of weeks back. " he gets up and heads into the house as he talks and comes back out with two tankards.
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Jezebel leaves the others across the street alone, and wanders to the neighboring houses, gathering whatever information is available relating to Auntie Baldwin.
Once everyone is done, Jezebel will return and head in to Auntie's to check with her in person once they have all the outside information.
Jezebel and Toshizo move on to the house next door and meet Baltwin's neighbours, Mr & Mrs Anthos. They have been watching the goings on at Gilga Baltwins for sometime and have nothing pleasant to say about her operation (apart from the fact that all the cats keep the vermin down). " Sometimes late at night I've seen some pretty crooked looking people visit her door. They have whispered conversations at the door and when they leave they normally take a small box or something. I don't know what she's dealing in but it definitely seems illegal! " Apart from this they talk about the near constant racket the children produce (Quieter thankfully during the day).
Across the street Azeban enjoys a quiet drink with Trebb and takes a trip down his memory lane as he talks of Lady Baltwins prowess at card games in the middle of his ramble he suddenly says " She always wins you know, haha, sometimes I don't half wonder if she cheats. " He smiles. " and one time we were interrupted by a shady sort of fellow who passed her a little bag that could have been money. Never did find out what that was about... " he leaves an awkward silence before adding " But she really is the finest of ladies you know. "
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Azeban listens intently to Trebb, adding in a comment or two and nodding at the appropriate places. Eventually, he stands.
"Excuse me, I've got to get back to work. It's been pleasant talking with you, Trebb. She really does seem like a fine lady. Thank you for the drink." He smiles before heading to join with the others, informing Jezebel with a summary of what he found when prompted.
Anders will follow the others in to meet with Auntie Baltwin.
Azeban breaks off his conversation with Trebb. The old man calls out after him " Well, have a good day sir. "
" Ah, come in, come in. Mind you wipe your feet dear. " The old lady who answers the door says the last part seems to be directed particularly at Galia. Auntie Baltwins grey hair is pulled up in a loose bun with wispy bits hanging out. Her face is covered in liver spots and her smile is full of brown teeth and gaps. " Oh the medicine, excellent the sick little dears will be blessed by your generosity. " She says smiling in what she hopes is a sweet manner. Scooping up the package from Toshizo's hand before it touches the surface of the table. " Tell me though, is it usual that the shining crusade sends six people to deliver one package? "
" Ah I see, well more donations would be wonderful but I don't won't to disturb the sick children upstairs you see, and don't worry little master, " She says somewhat condescendingly to Anders reaching out in attempt to tustle his hair. " what else would I be using the donated medicine for. The er, bright crusade is very important to what I do here. " Baltwin coughs slightly and then continues. " Why don't you come into the kitchen instead, have a cup of tea and I'll answer all your questions? "
Most of the party follows Auntie Baltwin into the kitchen. A young girl stands at the bench scrubbing some dishes and a boy is on his hands and knees scrubbing the white washed floor. Auntie looks at the boy who is about halfway through his task and says " Good job Adam, that will do for now why don't you run along and play. " The boy looks up his face shows a little confusion as he gets up. He smiles at you and then leaves the way you came in. " Deidre dear, don't bother with those dishes at the moment. Make us all a cup of tea. " Auntie says to the young girl.
Galia and Azeban hang back while the group enters the kitchen. Once the door closes Galia starts creeping up the stairs. She gets about halfway up concentrating on keeping quiet when she looks over the banister to make sure the door is still shut and accidentally steps on a wooden doll that scraps on the floor boards and then cracks in half loudly. " No playing on the stairs! " comes Baltwins muffled cry from in the kitchen but otherwise nothing happens and Galia makes it up the stairs. Soft coughing comes from some of the rooms up here and perhaps a groan or two. Most doors are closed but more than once Galia has to shush children before they exclaim. It's hard to know what to look for up here most of the rooms are full of simple beds occupied by sick children. At the end of the hall she finds Baltwins room. There's another open bottle of whiskey on the bedside table, the dresser and the cupboard are full cloths ane some simple jewellery and Galia begins to think she won't find anything until she discovers the false bottom in the lowest draw of the dresser. Hidden underneath are several boxes of unopened medicine gathering dust.
Azeban starts looking about in the entry way but his search soon takes him into the sitting room. Three comfy armchairs are arranged around a low coffee table and two china display cabinets sit against the walls. A quick look through the cabinets turns up nothing unusual but checking under the armchairs Azeban finds a fake seam where he finds five leather pouches each full of gold.
Back in the kitchen Auntie Baltwin clears her throat after yelling she doesn't seem to notice that two of you are missing. Deidre is finishes with the tea. Auntie Baltwin reaches into one of the top cupboards and pulls out a half empty bottle of whiskey and drops a slash into her tea. "Anyone else fancy a splash?" She asks before licking her lips and taking a sip. "Now, yes you were asking about the kids. Well they come in with all sorts of things. Flu, Killing cough, The pox. Obviously I need a variety of medicines to deal with these diseases, this one" she holds up the medicine from the silver crusade "is essential in treating Killing cough. I use this and other medicines from various charities to treat the children all the time. Without it I wouldn't be able to manage." As Deidre finishes handing out the tea Auntie Baltwin looks about and finally clicks. " Wait, wasn't there six of you? " she says standing up, her mug clattering to the floor.
G.Perception
A.Bluff
T.Sense Motive
T.Heal