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"Oh! You've brought Ollysta's medicine for me? Well, why didn't you say so?" Auntie Baltwin's mood changes on a silver coin as she accepts the parcel. "Yes, yes, thank you. Food too, hmm? She normally doesn't send that, but please take it back there." She says, waving Curraine off towards the kitchen to put the food away. While her back is turned, Haris slips down a side hallway and out of sight.
But as Auntie Baltwin turns back the others Falyf drops a tact bomb - and awkward silence fills the entrance hall following his question. For a moment, it seems like no one quite knows what to say. Auntie Baldwin stares at him like a child that just broke her favorite vase.
"What?!" She cries indignantly. Stomping up to the Falyf, she begins poking a bony finger into his chest, somewhat painfully. "Have a look around, you ask? Make sure everything is in ORDER?! You listen here you leaf-eared lackwit! This is my house, and I don't report to ANYONE."
Meanwhile, Haris and Curraine use Falyf's verbal skinning as an opportunity to poke around, but as of yet find nothing suspicious.
GM Rolls
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Falyf looks at her, "you listen. We were ordered to take a look, because they are giving you this for free. So, if you do not coorperate, you will be in deep trouble with the Silver Crusade! So you just shut up and lsiten what we ahve to say!" He says, towering over her with a stern face. "So you DO report to US!"
Intimidate
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"Would you please be quiet? You're making this a problem when there doesn't need to be. Go help the others with the food before you make things worse." You hear from Adamus towards the elf, which is probably the first time you've heard him be anything but jolly."I'm sorry Auntie. My friend here is not great with people. He did not mean to offend you in any way. What he meant to say was that we are here to see how you were doing to evaluate if you needed more assistance from the Crusade or not." Adamus looks a little uncomfortable spinning the issue, but he has no choice.
Bluff
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Taurus snorts in frustration as he sees the situation quickly spiraling out of control.
"I cannot believe you said that you sniveling noodle-armed fool", he roars at the elf. "We were given strict instructions to show this kind woman the utmost respect!", he says while grabbing Falyf by the shoulder roughly. "Come with me. I'm going to show you what happens to those that don't Cooperate, Explore, and Report properly".
Repeating the pathfinder mantra the hulking Shoanti drags the elf away - deeper into the household.
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Once Curraine is clear of the group he'll move to the kitchen quickly. After all the yelling, he assumes there's no need to attempt to try and sneak up on any possible conversations. In the kitchen he'll take stock of the overall cleanliness, types of meals that are prepared, and amounts of food that's on hand.
If there's a cook or any other staff in the kitchen Curraine will strike up a conversation and push the interaction in the direction of sweet treats and/or hearty meals. Sence Motive on any answers given -
If there's no staff, he'll do the above mentioned recon quickly before beginning the actual 'poking around'. Perception check for finding anything out of the ordinary -
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Auntie Baltwin agrees to give Adamus a tour, though her discomfort is obvious, her eyes constantly darting in the direction of Taurus and Falyf's, mostly pretend, arguement. In the kitchen Curraine finds a pair of young girls peeling carrots and chopping onions. When they look up and see him they seem to relax and the work proceeds much slower. He gets the feeling their previous flurry of activity was just a show.
Haris passes from room to room like a fatman at a buffet, nimble fingers testing every morsel in reach - casually lifting the lids off jars, carefully opening curio cabinets, fluffing pillows, tilting art frames to peek behind, and tapping on walls.
Tap tap tap tap thunk.
Behind a door painted to look like the wall he discovers a secret cache of medicine jars bearing tags marked with prices. Some of them are from previous deliveries from the Silver Crusade, but there are more than a few others that seem to be donated by other charities around the city.
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Seeing nothing unusual, Haris shuts the cupboard and moves on, going back to tilting pictures.
Huh!, Haris mentally exhales, as if suddenly realizing the twist of the joke but not too surprised by the punchline. Overall, he's quite amused at Auntie One-Tooth's skimming scheme. Haris quickly considers the options of his next move. 1. Join granny on a business venture and keep mouth shut, 2. Call the city guards and get yourself arrested for burglary, 3. Shout out to the others, somehow not a good idea at the moment, 4. Grab the entire stock and pull back the curtains on the poor hag.
"I am a grabber", Haris muses as he gets to work.
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Engaging the two young girls in a conversation, Betties, how's it go'in? Looks like you're making the mid-day grub. What'cha serv'n? Curraine will walk in like he owns the place and head for the first thing that doesn't look like a pantry. I've got a couple donations here. Where can I drop these kegs?
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Falyf and Taurus take their time searching the house. So far the only suspicious thing they've noticed is Haris, who walks by dragging a large curtain behind him. Haris, on the other hand, soon has a large clinking sack of medicine jars and herbal pouches. It's so big in fact, that it's pretty hard to drag around or conceal, and it isn't long before Auntie Baltwin notices the commotion coming from the area where she hides her secret stash. Halting the tour, she looks at Adamus and a touch of defiance begins to grow in her demeanor. "What are they doing in there?" She demands, starting towards the area.
Meanwhile, Curraine might as well be talking to himself in the Kitchen for all the conversation he's getting from the girls, who tend to give monosyllabic answers to most of his questions, like "Fine. Soup. There."
GM
Curraine Diplomacy
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Taurus discovers a large bottle of 3 copper chongo (a strong bourbon-like liquor preferred by serious drinkers) sitting next to nearly empty tumbler on a table in the front sitting room. As he's pondering that, he glances around the corner to see what Haris is up to and notices the open closet and the stash within.
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"It seems Auntie likes to drink", the hulking Shoanti grunts aloud. "What do you have over there Haris?", he asks as he comes over to examine the closet.
Looking over the glass bottles Taurus snorts in disgust, "It looks like the Silver Crusade's charity might not be needed here as much as they thought. We should gather the others and report this - and quickly".
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As the group converges on the evidence laid out for all to see, the old bag stammers wide-eyed at Adamus, the only person to show her any respect, and pleads her case with tears in her beady little bloodshot eyes. "I know what this looks like, but please, you have to understand! I'm not hurting anyone. There are lots of poor children here that need my help, and this is a big house. I.. I.. I need the coin. I can't pay the market or the carpenter or painter with medicine. And taxes! I need to pay those too! And gardners, chimney sweeps, masons. Oh please, don't tell anyone, they'll stop sending supplies. Dear gods! Think about the children!"
It's a good story, and none of the group can tell if it's true.
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"You should have just asked for more money to pay bills. I'm sure if you had just asked, Miss Zadrian would have obliged. I know you want to take care of the children, but you also have to be a good example for the kids. If they see you breaking the rules, then so will they. I'll tell Ollysta that you take good care of them and that they're safe and healthy. But I won't hide this from her. It wouldn't be right. And for the record, I am thinkin' of the children."
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Taurus leans in and advises Adamus in a bass whisper.
"She seems to have a bit more than healthy appreciation for drink as well", he says as he flashes the empty bottle of strong spirits."This is the sort of stuff my brothers and I hit hard after a battle, not the type of drink little old women sip to take the ease off their nerves".
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Adamus develops a frown as he whispers back."I know that brand. Use to drink myself blind on that myself." He sighs a bit before continuing.
"I know these little ones are a handful, and I can understand the need for a little liquid relaxation because of it. But drinking something that is strong enough to bring down a bull is not right for a little old lady in charge of children." He catches his breath and closes his eyes for a moment."But if you promise to stop with the heavy drinking and get some help, I'll consider not mentioning it to Ollysta. Sometimes people are weak and need help. And you do seem to care about those young'uns."
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Haris feels like louse, suddenly getting heavy hearted and a bit teary-eyed; perhaps from own past of needing such places in his youth. Holding back the urge to say, 'Let's leave the poor woman alone', he decides to throw caution to his capricious sense of duty. He adds to the whispered conversation, "Lets buy some time and give her a long lecture here, while the smooth-talkers take the urchins down the street and soften their tongues with some sweet treats to get the real skirt on granny? I mostly buy her tears but I'd trust the children more before we move on."
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Taurus shoots the "entertainer" a raised eyebrow, "I think we've learned enough but if you think this is a good idea".
"COME ON OUT KIDS", the hulking Shoanti bellows. "We're going to go for a walk while the soft-hearted Adamus here has some words with your auntie. Let's get you some sweets or something. And if you're good", Taurus pauses a moment, "I'll show you how to kill a man with your bare hands".
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"I'm sure if they have anything to add they'll speak up", the taciturn barbarian says to the rogue.
Taurus addresses the assembled (and now thoroughly bribed) children, "Alright, listen up. I'm sure Auntie Baldin is a great caretaker but I need you to be completely honest. I'm going to treat you like grown men and women because, frankly, among my people some of you are. I need to know exactly what things are like living under the old woman's roof. How often and what does she feed you? What kinds of chores does she have you do? How does she discipline those of you that get out of line?"
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Gathering the children proves easier than expected since the actual numbers of those present at the house is significantly lower than what you were given the impression to believe. Auntie Baltwin wrings her hands as you herd them out the door, tears coming to her eyes. "This isn't necessary. I'll give back the medicine. I even have some small magics of my own, and if I'm not mistaken that's blood on a couple of you. I can help you too if you need healing."
down the street a small girl approaches Taurus, looking up at the giant man with eyes big as saucers. "Auntie can be mean sometimes, but she cooks real good, and tells funny stories at bedtime. It's much better than living in the streets. I was sick when I came here, and she made me better. I'm now strong enough to go out and help her friends like the other kids."
Before he can learn exactly what that means, the group is distracted by two boys fighting over a piece of candy and another little girl crying because she fell in mud. By the time you get back to the first little girl, she's withdrawn behind a lollipop shield and seems too timid to explain herself further.
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Taurus growls as the children prove to be difficult to manage.
Lowering his hulking frame to a kneel he tries to make eye contact with the shy child. "I can tell you've very strong. Among my people girls are expected to be as strong as boys", Taurus explains in his softest voice possible. "What did you 'help her friends' with?"