Hugo finally stops staring at the copper banded illusionary chest long enough to try the brass key in the steel chest but the key is to big to fit in the key hole.
Roshan climbs down the pyramid of bodies with keys in hand and begins to try each of them in the various locks. After a few minutes she finds out that the jeweled-scepter key works in the door to exit the room. The small golden key that was retrieved from the ceiling fits into the steel chest.
Kagar fits the small golden key into the keyhole of the steel chest and it turns easily. The Half-Orc then flips open the lid and a hears a pop and a sees a bright flash. Once he opens his eyes he sees that Hugo's skin has turned blue and then looks down at himself sees that he is also blue skinned.
This chest holds the map of the Salhar burial vaults beneath Sothis and a finely crafted stick.
The group files out of the room and the servant is waiting outside the door holding a quill and parchment. "Congraulations! You have passed the test of Amenopheus,The Sapphire Sage. My master told me you may keep the map and wand but I must have collect all the keys. Thank you." As the pathfinders pass by the servant he gives each one smile until Kagar and Hugo pass and he shakes his head and scribbles notes onto his parchment. After taking his notes and collecting all the keys the servant lead the group thru the manor to the guards which lead the group off the estate grounds.
The group make their way south thru town to the Ascendant Court where the Temple of the Shining Star, massive temple to Sarenrae, is located.
Arriving at the Temple, the Pathfinders are immediately directed to Ollysta Zadrian. This paladin of Sarenrae is young in her years, but holds herself with the poise of a queen and warrior simultaneously. As she notices the Pathfinders arrival, she strides forward, addressing the group in a strong voice.
"Thank the light of Sarenrae you have arrived! I knew Ambrus
would come through for us in the Silver Crusade. I desperately
need you to bring medicine to an orphanage and let me know
if the headmistress, Gilga Baltwin, is deserving of our charity.
Since our quest began, the needy have clamored for our aid,
and I suspect some are abusing our generosity. It may sound
cruel, but there are plenty of dishonest people out in the world
eager for easy gold.
Do you know of the Silver Crusade? After discovering so
many factions splintered the Society, a number of us banded
together to proliferate the cause of charity and kindness using
the Society’s resources. As it is said, ‘The Dawn brings new
light’ and I’ve made it my life’s work to use our recent darkness
to bring a new light to the world and to the Pathfinder Society.
I apologize for straying off point. Will you bring this parcel
of medicine to Auntie Baltwin’s Home for Recovery in the
Eastgate district?
Be observant and report back to me any evidence that Baltwin
isn’t worthy of the Silver Crusade’s aid. Thank You"
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Roshan pats Hugo on one calf that's probably bigger than she is. "It'll probably wear off in time," she says hopefully. "Anyway it's a really pretty blue."
She agrees the orphanage is a good location to try next.
As they walk, she looks sidelong at Faeria. "If you're hungry, I could get you something to eat," she says uncertainly. "I wouldn't want any of my friends to starve."
To everyone, she adds, "The stick is magic but I don't know what it does. Faeria, can you tell?"
***
With Zadrian, Roshan listens wide-eyed. "Oh! What a noble task. I will happily take this medicine over. We'll get it done, don't you worry, ma'am!"
It is a Wand of Knock
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A quest to deliver medicine to orphans. This was a quest that felt more worthy to Fellstone, at least more worthy than playing puzzles with boxes.
"Alright. To the Orphanage then." he said, his mood improving. "Now, Ollysta mentioned that this Baltwin woman might be trying to pull some wool over the Society's eyes. Does anyone have some manner of expertise in ferreting out mistruths?"
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Kagar shakes his head. "No. Just the means to punish them for making that transgression."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Roshan glances over at the tummy rumbling. She stops at a food cart as they go and gets a kebab with roasted onions and tomatoes and bits of unidentifiable meat of some sort (the vendor said it's chicken; Roshan doesn't really believe that) which she hands to Roshan.
"Here, this stick will taste better."
Before the Pathfinder head to Auntie Baltwin’s Home for Recovery,
they may wish to ask around about the orphanage and the
headmistress’s quality of character. While most witnesses
admit she is a mean old bag, they also all reply they think
it is great what she’s doing for the children.
Miltivis, who runs a nearby market, claims he’s
served Auntie Baltwin for over 30 years, and while a good
customer, she is quite demanding and often rude to the
other customers. He says she’s kept his supplier of fine
whiskeys in business for decades.
Gilga Baltwin’s neighbors Travost and Tirelle
Anthos are frankly tired of the noises the children make
and the retinue of cats—though they do appreciate the
latter’s mousing skills. They admit to being happy when
Auntie Baltwin sends the children “off into the town”
during the day, as it gives them a few hours of peace and
quiet before they return in the evening.
At the estate across the street, Master Trebb
Bonto, a retired builder, says nothing but nice things of
Lady Baltwin, as he calls her. He recounts tales of tea
and games on the sitting porch, though if pressed, he
lets slip that she often cheats at games and sometimes
had some shady characters coming to whisper in her ear
and palm her small bags of what might have been money
before slinking away. “Otherwise a fine lady, indeed.” he
quickly adds.
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"Is this a wand of create food and water? I'm unfamiliar with divine magic, but it smells delicious."
She devours the kebab.
Upon arriving in the orphanage's neighborhood Faeria says: "Oh? I know this place. I think I once had a dream where I was a small child running through the streets around here with a bunch of orphan kids. That was Master Bonto's estate, and that's Mr. Hooper Miltivis' marketplace, and that's the garbage bin with the grouchy, green monster in it." She trails off.
"Near." She says mischievously and then wanders dreamily over to the market away from the party. She purchases something--a bottle of whiskey.
"FAR!" she turns and shouts back back from the counter.
Then she returns. "Near again. Heheh." She smiles dreamily.
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Kagar is too distracted and not overly talkative to the locals about the head of the orphanage. He is rather curious about the whiskey, however. "How is that to help?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"What this lady like we go see?"
Hugo, in his new, blue style, apparently has a grand day at the markey trying to make friends. He comes back to say,
"Man at market say she good spender, but mean. Likes something called 'whee-skee' lots. Other people that live near, they say young ones are too noisy and too many cats. But cats hunt rodents, which they like." Hugo scratches his head. "And young get quiet when Auntie sends them 'off into town'. What does that mean?"
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Hugo, in his new, blue style, apparently has a grand day at the markey trying to make friends. He comes back to say,
"Man at market say she good spender, but mean. Likes something called 'whee-skee' lots."
Faeria holds up a bottle labeled 'Here There Be Dragons.' "I've got whee-skee. I think this was Auntie's favorite!" She makes swooshing noises as she guides the dragon on the bottle through mock aerial maneuvers.
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As Faeria waits her memories flash back to her days hanging out with the orphan kids.
Tears flood her eyes and the world grows bleary.
Are those harps?
She imagines that through her watery eyes that she can almost see the other kids and hear their little work song meant to keep the drudgery or chores at bay.
*Sigh* Orphanage kids had it so good. Soap buckets, hot and cold running mush, and they were all so well choreographed too.
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Fellstone had listened in to what Hugo had said about the Auntie who ran the Orphanage. He had little skill in talking with folks to get information, and he was a little concerned about what would happen to Faeria if she wasn't supervised.
"This Auntie doesn't sound like to bad of a person. Perhaps a little lapse in some areas of character but who isn't."
A small skinny girl looking nearly ten years old answers the door. "Hello!" A moment later a yell comes from the behind the child. "Who is at the door?" The little girl turns around to the person yelling. "I don't know ... she is dressed funny thou."
Nearly swarming with cats and children, this fine upper-class home appears to be clean and in good condition considering the number and ages of its inhabitants. Three young boys shoot marbles in the dirt near the side porch, and inside strewn toys and more cats lie about on the floors. A few children take care of chores, while coughs and sneezes softly erupt from the children’s dormitories upstairs.
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A small skinny girl looking nearly ten years old answers the door. "Hello!" A moment later a yell comes from the behind the child. "Who is at the door?" The little girl turns around to the person yelling. "I don't know ... she is dressed funny thou."
Faeria turns and looks at Roshan. "Yes, I suppose she is, a little."
What Faeria imagines the place to look like.
Good times.
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Noticing all the tiny cats inside, Roshan turns to Bagheera. "Stay!" she says with a little tap of one hand to Bagheera's nose. "No trouble, just lie and be good girl. The little kittens would be afraid of you."
More loudly, she calls into the house, "Hello! We are Pathfinders, here with a delivery from Ollystra Zadrian! May we come in?"
As she speaks, Roshan looks over the girl at the door with a smile, but also ascertaining if she seems well-fed, dressed in clean clothes, and the like.
"It's called marbles." one of the boys says giving Hugo a weird look. "Have you never played marbles? Where have you been? Under a rock!!" the other two giggle and they all go back to their game.
An ancient looking woman pushes the girl, nearly knocking the girl down, as she opens the door completely. "Well hello, I was not expecting visitors." Seeing who is at the door she tries to give the girl she nearly knocked over a comforting pat on the head. "Go play now sweetie!" Turning back to Faeria and Roshan. "What can I help you with?" She says to Fearia not even acknowledging that Roshan is there.