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Initiative:
He wasn't expecting quite the resistance he got. Biting off a curse as she managed to wiggle free and to the floor. Immediately screaming for help and pulling herself together for an attack. A little shocked he stepped back, hand dropping to his sword. But he hesitated with a scowl. She was a horrible example of a human being, had harmed children and fully deserved to be brought to justice....but he had no intentions of physically harming the woman unless he absolutely had to. So he gripped the pommel with a gauntlet hand for those several precious seconds as he debated his response to the shocking turn of events.
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As Corbyn sets himself and begins to examine the bedraggled woman, Passio pushes his way into the house raising his hands and attempting to interpose himself between his comrades and the orphans' caretaker.
"Wait, wait! This will serve us not! We were but to discover the truth and report it. We should not be assuming the laws of Absalom will back us. Especially with violence! We need to stay calm." Passio half turns to Auntie Baltwin. "You are right, we should not be disturbing you. We are not the law nor agents of it. Merely members of the Pathfinder Society who are attempting to ascertain whether our charities are being used to their fullest or abused."
Turning resolutely to Faeron, Passio says emphatically with a determined expression. "Stand down, soldier. We have our answer. Now it's time to return to our duties and report, so that cooler and more fit heads than ours can pass what judgement she decides." Passio's emphasis referring to Ollysta Zadrian couldn't be more clear unless he named her out loud. Lightning crackles in his eyes, and his expression like a thunderstorm.
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"Stand down, soldier. We have our answer. Now it's time to return to our duties and report, so that cooler and more fit heads than ours can pass what judgement she decides."
Corbyn snapps back at Passio.
Ragathiel has blessed me with the power of passing my own judgment in his name and I hold this sacred duty above all other missions in life."
Realizing this statement may have been out of line Corbyn turns to Passio.
"Please do not misunderstand my intentions. I have no intention of hurting this woman unless provoked."
This was one of those frequent occasions where Corbyn's Orcish heratige really showed. These situations were often embarrassing as this was a side that always brought great shame to him.
"Choose your actions carefully Auntie Baltwin. I should warn you that I dispense a very perverted brand of justice."
You are unable to determine what spell Baltwin is casting; she is within your threatening reach, but is backing away defensively as she does so.
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Passio does nothing except hold up his hands and continue talking, hoping both his friends and Auntie Baltwin see reason. "If you stand down now, Faeron, we can still salvage the honor of the Silver Crusade and the Pathfinder Society. Why don't we offer to let Miss Baltwin tell us what she needs to help these orphans. Even if she has been acquiring it in a less than savory manner currently, perhaps giving her the chance to tell Ollysta Zadrian what could help her and the orphans would be better than whatever is about to happen here now."
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Grey eyes slipped towards the door as the sorcerer foolishly darted forward and threw himself between them. In a small space with Corbyn's massive sword, and promptly attempted to remind them that they were supposed to report her bahviours and apologizing to the chanting woman with the claim that they were not agents of the laws. The steel orbs flashed and narrowed as his lips twisted with a brief flash of disgust. The little courtiers back home had acted the same, claiming distance to keep their noses clean. And then he was adressed in a sharp tone while lightening danced along the sorcerers eyes. Faeron's expression closed off like a steel trap.
"When you have proved yourself, child, you can address me as a superior."There was no give in his tone, no mercy, not understanding. He had no intentions of harming this woman more than necessary to bring about justice but he WOULD bring justice. Corbyn felt much the same, defending his choices."Cowards do not get to question another's honour. "His tone was cold and scathing as he ignored the rambling sorcerer and swung out in an attempt to knock the old woman out and end this pitiful farce so he could return her to the Silver Crusade and free the children she abused as any decent creature would.
Unarmed attack:
Nonlethal damage:
Faeron's carefully measured strike loops in from the side, catching Baltwin in the back of the head!
The old woman squawks and staggers, her spell visibly fizzling, the mackerel tabby mimicking her with a yowl. She immediately drops to her knees, hands clasped before her imploringly, looking up at Faeron with watery eyes.
"I admit it! Don't hit me again! Please! I will go with you to the temple and turn myself in! I surrender!"
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Mae stands rooted in horror as the confrontation with Auntie Baltwin degenerates into violence. As the old woman drops to her knees, she darts in to stand beside Passio between the kneeling crone and the other Pathfinders, hands similarly upraised.
"Enough! She has surrendered. Do not dishonor yourselves further with attacks on an elderly woman, and certainly not on your teammates!" She squats next to the orphanarium's keeper. "Are there any children here who need to be watched while you are gone? Are there any nearby who can watch them? Surely you do not spend all your time here. You must have some help?" She tries to examine Auntie Baltwin's head to ensure she is not badly injured.
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"Er..." says Samara, crossing her arms around herself tightly and defensively, "What spell was she casting, though? Maybe it's good it got interrupted at least? Sucking our brains right out of our head is a thing she might have been doing."
Samara is not terribly familiar with the use of magic.
"Perhaps we should go..."
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Jace is shocked by the scuffle, but certainly he judges not others actions. His own methodology is slow, subtle and ineffective. Turning to the apprehensive female elf he softly adds, "We will, first we make sure that everyone is fine." speaking as one might to a flighty deer.
He looks to the old lady upon the floor, sympathy mixes with a growing apprehension in his gut. 'We have been asked to find rumours about this place, and it has driven them to violence...what has she done. And look at Mai taking care or her, what a kind hearted, level-headed woman.' the ambivalent emotions run through him whilst perusing the scene.
Realising the words down here could take awhile, Jace takes a step forward and taps Passio upon the shoulder followed by making the universal gesture of going upstairs.
Though he would have liked to point this out to the sensible Mai, she had greater questions at the moment - thus he had made sure she could see him from the corner of her eye.
Subtly, Jace leaves the room to head towards the stairs and ascends them hoping that the children will be above.... and most importantly in rude health.
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As the blow against Auntie Baltwin lands, Passio is horrified. He allows his hands to drop in defeat as he watches the woman crumple and dissolve into weeping hysterics.
"Cowards do not get to question another's honour."[/b]
Passio shakes his head sadly. "As do not the weak it would seem. I suppose I know not what qualifies as honorable in the eyes of one who has set himself above the law. I only hope that somewhere within your knightly codes, mercy exists."
Seeing Jace's gesture, Passio moves past the elf knight and follow's his friend upstairs leaving the sad, broken woman kneeling before Mai's ministrations.
Passio and Jace:
The scene upstairs is nauseating.
The stairs lead to a dormitory room, with wooden-framed beds on separate sides of the room. On one side, seven clean, well-made beds stand empty, with small footlockers at each footboard.
On the other side of the room, six beds contain coughing, sweat-soaked children, all human and all in various stages of illness. These beds are filthy, ill-maintained, and the windowless room is stiflingly hot and ill-lit.
As the two of you proceed into the room, the young girl in the first bed looks at both of you with feverish eyes.
"Hullo. Do you know Miz Baltwin?"
Mai, Samara, Corbyn, and Faeron:
As Mai leans over to check the old woman, she spits and jerks away.
"Don't you touch me! Haven't you people already done enough? I can take care of myself, thank you!"
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Bile rises in his throat as the smell of stale sweat and disease assails his nostril. However the tears are not caused by this stink, but the nightmare vista before them. Jace crouches down next to the small girl; "Yes, we have brought you some medicine and food." his voice soft and comforting. He stops the quivering rage and sorrow in the tone, instead keeping it warm and friendly. "Say what's you're name? I'm Jace!" He listens to the little girl talk, a warm comforting smile.
Jace focuses on his God and draws upon his strength, a positive burst of healing embraces the cots of the youngsters. Even if he knew it would not help them against the disease, it could mitigate their wounds, bed sores or other minor ailments.
Jace turns his head so the young girl cannot see it, his face darkening as he looks to Passio. The sorceror can see the deep rage held tightly within; "Could you increase the illumination slightly? These children must be moved from here, I wouldn't keep an animal in these conditions."
Taking the pack that Mai had given him from his back and carefully placing it upon the floor, Jace rummages around and removes the medicine. He looks at it assessing the need for preparation.
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Passio looks at the six ailing children. He can't help but bring a sleeve to cover his nose and mouth to block out the stench of sickness and sweat. Looking at the child, Passio can see that the girl is sick...but no more than one gets occasionally when the weather changes. Not a master of healing or illness, the girl still looks piteous to him.
Even as Jace's requests more light, Passio is already casting Dancing Lights and sends the orbs to their farthest circumference to illuminate the room as best they can. Then he leans down close to Jace and whispers so as not be overheard by the children.
"You are more knowledgeable of healing than I, Jace. Tell me truthfully, is the medicine we have here enough to help them?"
Passio wonders if the old woman downstairs ever had a chance of keeping these children healthy or cared for. Six a-bed and seven more? No wonder she was so bitter. She needed extra arms, not medicine! These children would live as they were young and resilient. What they needed was baths and clean sheets. Passio guessed Baltwin was in the process of transferring the children from one side of the room to the other hence the cleanliness on one side.
"We should get these children into the clean beds as we help them bathe. Then clean this side of the room. That would be the best for them, no?"
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Mai rises, wiping the old biddy's spittle from her face with the sleeve of her new garment. "You must not be badly injured. And you will not provoke me to violence. I was raised to honor my elders, but your behavior is so reprehensible, it is difficult. Fortunately, the temple will pass judgement, not I."
She returns to her original objective of searching the ground floor.
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Jace looks into the optimistic sorcerer's eyes and all fury drained away; to be contained somewhere deeper inside ready for when it's needed. For now the children's' needs come first. "Yes friend, you speak wise council." Moving over to the young girl his arms don't even strain as he picks her bodily up, frail bones stick against him and he blinks away tears. Throwing a wane smile, he carries her across the room. To a clean bed Jace places her within, softly tucking her in whilst singing a light-hearted song.
Jace goes around all the dirty beds, removing the children and placing them in the clean linen. He opens the foot lockers trying to find clean, night-clothes for the children. Which he gives to them, walking between the children he makes sure they have damp clothes upon their brows that they take a spoonful of the medicine; "I know it's yucky, but it'll do you good."
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The tall elf sighed, an annoyed sound as she fell dramatically to the floor in surrender. And likely a further attempt to draw sympathy from those whose hearts wavered. A slow blink as Mistress Mai lept forward to assist Baltwin while Faeron's steely eyes watched without sympathy for the old woman.
"We have yet to see a single child, little sister, despite the noise. I would think that children who can't move need little watching."He spoke simply, his voice still containing the cold tones of anger as the helping hands where slapped coldly away. He didn't even bother with telling the old woman to stop. Baltwin had no heart, no decency, and no words he would speak would appeal to something she didn't have. That was what some of the party had failed to realize. And perhaps failed still. At Mistress Samara's question he turned his head slightly and offered her a tight lipped smile for the insight. He hadn't questioned as he had no intention of letting her cast it, but it was a good question all the same. What more damage could she have caused? And then Passio spoke once more.
"I pity those who fall under a sword as you watch and cling to your mercy, refusing to slay the killer as he is weaker than you.'He responded flatly to the sorcerer, not even bothering to look towards him as he did. Was he clinging to the letter of the law as a coward or from fear? Or had he truly never seen that mortal laws were as flawed as those who wrote them. In which case he was a willful, blind child. He reached down and plucked the cat up and handed it to the spiteful woman.
"Come."A cold, clipped word that left no room for argument from the old woman. He was tired to the bone of this orphanage and turned to leave it. Only to face his horse who was attempting to wiggle himself inside likely to find out what was going on or assist. Thankfully the frame held against him. A small sigh and Faeron rubbed at his nose. Pushing with his other hand at the center of the big head and pushing Turin back out into the sunlight.
"Up with you."He instructed the crone, shifting to assist her in getting on the massive grey.
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Ears flicked and the grey moved restlessly around the front door. He could see people, mostly backs, and hear them. But no one was coming out. Battle trained senses said something was going on but he just knew he couldn't get to it and he'd been called.
Giving up he attempted to find out himself. Shoving forward and finding that the door was too thin. Grunting in effort the heavy chested grey strained, steel shod hooves striking a ringing sound as he fought the door. Nose reaching out to lip towards the pretty elf who was just too far away to get to her. And then his master was there.
A brief nicker and he backed up, chuffing and whickering his complaints as he stepped back several paces and then nosed the tall green elf. Demanding to know what he missed, what was going on, and why was no one petting him?
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As Jace makes sure the children are comfortable, have taken their medicine and are resting in the clean linen. Jace moves over to Passio and says quietly; "So, Samara....?" he leaves the subtle question hanging, before remembering Passio isn't that subtle. "She's a nice lady, you've been hanging around her a lot....?" Jace's match-making skills are quite direct, and not very accurate.
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Passio looks a little confused for a moment.
"Samara? Yes, she's very nice. Everyone seems to fall all over themselves for her when she is willing to talk. Look at Faeron. Not very nice to anyone else, but very nice to Samara. Let me tell you. It's obvious we need her to do all the talking on this trip. I bet she could have charmed old Auntie Baltwin right out the door!" Passio's eyes fill with a light that resembles hero-worship. "I hope people like me half as much as they do Silver-Tongue Samara!"
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Jace smiles for although Passio's thoughts are not of romance at least the respect is evident; 'And maybe after all the boisterous kind-hearted optimist Passio would not be perfect for the shy elf. But maybe Faeron would be!'
Jace strokes a small sick head, making sure the clean rag is still damp. "I like you, my friend. Maybe Faeron is nice to her because he likes her?" Jace says floating idea, then shaking his head realising that Passio is not half the expert Jace is when it comes to matters of the heart!
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Jace shrugs to Passio, suddenly feeling guilty about trying to match-make. 'The best intentions pave the road to the Hells. Bah, like Aunty Baltwin; I am sure she didn't want the children to suffer so when she started the place....sometimes it amazes me how easy the gifts of Caydean are abused.' Jace walks around checking upon the children.
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Mai finishes her search and returns to the doorway, grabbing the witch's tabby cat and handing it up to the old woman. "I suppose we should return to the Lady Captain Zadrian with our news before starting any more errands. Perhaps she can send somebody to watch after the children for tonight, until Auntie Baltwin's fate is decided. This errand has taken a long time. Remember to keep watch for the strange halfling and the six-fingered sorceress."
She goes to retrieve Plod from his hitching post, handing his lead rope to Corbyn. "Maybe Jace and Passio should remain here with the children until we return?"
Jace and Passio:
The orphans respond gratefully to your attentions; the illnesses that they suffer from are a variety of nasty but treatable illnesses. Baltwin has obviously been letting the children get better on their own while she hoards the medicine.
Mai, Corbyn, Faeron, and Samara:
Auntie Baltwin follows silently, accepting Faeron's help to mount Turin and clutching her cats. She makes soothing noises to herself, and she tries as hard as she can to ignore the stares of Miltivus and the tall, pale footman, who are both now watching curiously from the street just outside the market and the manse.
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As the others start to leave, Jace nips quietly down the stairs. "You'll come back?" he asks hopefully that they haven't got sick of his company. "Passio and I are looking after the children, there's nothing life-threatening but some should stay. So if you can bring someone back to look after them. Then we can be onto the next job. The VC wasn't patient was he?" He then returns upstairs.
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She goes to retrieve Plod from his hitching post, handing his lead rope to Corbyn. "Maybe Jace and Passio should remain here with the children until we return?"
Corbyn accepts the rope from Mai.
"It would be un-wise to leave sickly children to fend for themselves."
As the others start to leave, Jace nips quietly down the stairs. "You'll come back?" he asks hopefully that they haven't got sick of his company.
"Have no worries my friend. We will return as quickly as possible with somebody to relieve you."
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Mai shows Faeron, Corbyn, and Samara the packages she has found, along with the markings indicating their various sources. She pats Turin on the nose sympathetically and scratches his ears, sorry he has to carry such a nasty burden. "I shall wait here with the children and make sure nothing happens. Hurry back," she says pleadingly to the group, before re-entering the orphanage and going upstairs to check on the others, taking the medicines with her.
She is shocked at the sight and smell of the room and the children but tries to conceal it. "I found these other remedies that might help," she tells Jace and Passio, showing them the herbs. "Auntie Baltwin has been busy."
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"Not in here she hasn't." Jace says quietly with a slight cynical tone. From his words and body language it is apparent that he has seen this before, neglect of care and the slow destruction of youthful hope.
"I am glad you are here." He adds honestly, whilst moving between the beds. Moving to the filthy beds he has stripped the sheets, piling the fetid linen in a corner. "I have given them some medicine, but their injuries are not life-threatening. Not in my examination; if you could give your opinion?"
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Mai takes a quick look at the children, ensuring they are properly dosed and covered, then quietly helps strip the linen and carry it from the room, cracking windows to air the place. She searches the kitchen to put together a small, light meal for the patients while they wait for the others to return.
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"Thank you both," Jace says softly; "We didn't talk to much back at the lodge. Where are you from Passio? You seem very much the performer, is that what you used to do? A noble profession travelling magical performer."
He removes his jacket, revealing a cream shirt; doing this reminds him that Mai seems to be wearing new attire and it's all he can do to concentrate on the sorcerers answer rather than look at the Tian lady.
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The tall elf paused at Mistress Samara's words, tipping his head slightly and glancing between the various members of the group near them without a touch of expression reaching his carefully closed off face. He could read their opinions of him easily enough.
"Of those living in this house, little sister, I believe that those who needed mercy received it."He spoke quietly, turning and leaving without a further word with the old woman. Only responding to Mistress Mai's warning when she joined him and the warhorse with a crisp nod of his head. He would not allow anyone to stop him from his mission to bring relief to those children in the long term sense. He assisted the old hag up onto Turin's wide back while the others sorted out who would be remaining.
"If you wish."He flashed a brief smile at Jace, a hint at the humor that was returning now that justice had been established and looked like it would continue to do so. Turin nudged the petting monk's hand and lipped at her. Clearly trying to get a read on the situation as he was picking up his masters unease. Sensing that Faeron rested a gauntled hand on the side of his head and stroked it.
"Thank you, Mistress Mai."His voice rang with his honest appreciation that she would see to the children along with the others. Jace would mean well, but the cavalier would feel better with someone with a more solid head on their shoulders was here as well. Faeron Snapped his heels and graced her with a militaristic bow before catching Turin's reigns and clicking him forward softly. Leading them away, allowing the others to follow if they wished, and to the Silver Crusade where Baltwin would face justice for her crimes and a new patroness would be called for the orphanage. Hopefully this would grant those who started life at a disadvantage a little relief.
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"I understand. And... The magic is a thing that needed to be stopped, at the least," says Samara to Faeron, nodding a couple of times quickly. She turns to Mai, Jace and Passio, raising a hand in hesitant farewell. She then runs a few steps after Faeron and Turin in silence, crossing her arms over her body and hooking her hands around the straps of her backpack once she's caught up.
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'Of course, her beauty shines through though.' Jace smiles, his eyes slightly misty with a light attraction. "Practical clothes are very sensible, especially for missions. However sometimes it is nice to get dressed up, something special that makes you feel" 'even more' "desirable. Not to attract anybody, but for your own confidence." He does a small derisive snort; "Although with your abilities, I am sure you have no lack of confidence."
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"Confidence comes from within, not from one's clothing, don't you think? And there is ceremonial garb, and festival garb. That typically has meaning and represents something relating to the occasion. Dressing to inflame desire is for women who... trade in desire. That is fine for them. I am not such a one." Mai's cheeks grow pink at this and she avoids Jace's and Passio's eyes.
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"I...I...I never meant to imply that!" he says flustered, hand upon the back of his neck and looking down. "Yes, exactly. Confidence should come from your own abilities, but there are certain times when clothing or how people view you affects that. I remember, the confirmation ceremony when I had my robes on and my brother stood next to me. I was so happy and proud..." He drifts off into a slight revere.
Shaking his head slightly, he continues upon his other tack; "Haven't you ever had a suit, dress that made you feel special? Not necessarily desirable, just proud."