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Miette decides to chime in with her most humble and polite manner:
"Excuse me ma'am but we're here to deliver these medicines yet I'd like to see more of this facility first. Is that possible?"
And then, just to add spice to our conversation, in drawling, slightly slurred tones:
"Oh also, do you have any more of that fine, fine hooch? I notice the empty bottle over yonder. Looks mighty tasty, heck I've only heard of that kind let alone seen a bottle. Could I try some, pretty please. With sugar on top.?"
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Frunobulax takes up the conversation in the vein that Miette has provided, "I too would like to see the conditions of your facility here. Especially if the children require the medical supplies that we are providing."
He nods along with Miette, "Yes, I am sure that the alcohol you imbibe makes it easier to deal with the stress of having to care for such needy young ones, correct? However, does it in any way affect your ability to provide care to the sick? I am not so certain I would to be looked after by a caregiver that imbibes in such potent liquor with her morning tea."
Despite Frunobulax's intention, he is about as subtle as a brick thrown through a window.
She looks at Miette and says No, that's not for you, it wouldn't be good for you., then answers to Frunobulax' follow-up question:
Ha! Yes, I take a drink every now and then. Seems like these day you need it if you want to make it through the day in this house!
I've got experience and the results to show, she looks Frunobulax straight in the eye, as if to challenge him yes, I like my drink, but I wouldn't have it hurt the children.
While Auntie is conversing with Frunobulax, she more or less ignores Miette, who takes the chance to sneak of to the side and out of the room. Turning over some cupboards in the kitchen, she finds nothing but pots and pans, and some cleaning equipment.
Anything the temple is able to provide. I care for a wide range of illnesses. Some just have a bad cough, others are more serious. Others again have broken a bone or sprained an ankle. Her reaction to the Warpriest is somewhat better than her reaction to Frunobulax. Whereas she was almost threatening to the latter, to the first she shows more respect.
Auntie Baltwin does not make a move to any supply room, but rather answers to Aldeth doesn't the temple send me this package to use? That's how it's always done. I always have need of supplies - who knows what emergencies come in. I can't predict when the next brat will break a leg from falling off a roof, you know.
Nijena listens closely to the tone of voice, looks at Auntie's gestures. Despite her experience with the mannerisms of people, she learns little.
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Frunobulax eyes the old woman carefully. "All well and good, dear madame. However, your physical traits bear many of the marks of near constant alcohol use. The broken capillaries, the odor... I have concerns of whether your faculties may be, well, compromised by your drinking."
The half-orc further shares his thoughts. "Also, if you find yourself strapped for money for these supplies, perhaps you could cut back on your liquor purchases in order to take better care of your charges."
Taken aback by the sudden avalanche of accusations, Auntie hesitates, then speaks yes, I may like my drink every now and then. It's all I can do to keep on top with these brats.
She seems repentant in this respect and claims I would change my ways if the shining star would guide me. And on the accusation of Aldaeth, she reacts I send out those children strong enough to do light work and earn a bit of pay. It helps in feeding them.
Miette otherwise finds little.
I don't know auntie says with a sobby voice the shining temple will probably be able to help me, though. They are most charitable.
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Nijena places a light hand on Miette's shoulder to restrain her, and smiles at Auntie Baldwin.
Sorry to have taken up so much of your time Ms. Baldwin, it is obvious that you do good work despite difficult circumstances, and you are to be commended for it. If you cannot find the time to make it to the Temple of the Shining Star yourself, perhaps we can take the message to them, and see if they can spare a priestess to help you?
As Nijena and Miette look ready to depart, Auntie replies That would be most kind. Please do not judge an old woman too harshly. She then shows a broad, buck-toothed smile.
Upon leaving the home of Auntie Baltwin, the old woman smiles nervously, and a cat crawls along the leg of Miette purrr
The way back up to the Shining Star temple is easy to find. After waiting a short while at the temple, Ollystra is ready to receive the adventurers. Tell me what you have found out she speaks with a regal voice.
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Looking up at Ollystra with a humble yet eager expression: Beggin' yer pardon Ma'am we found no evidence of corruption or abuse on Auntie Baltwin's part but I strongly suggest further surveillance. The children are in good health yet are subjected to menial labor throughout each day. According to the orphanages warden the work is in effort to offset her drinking habit...err feeding the rug rats. I do not trust her and if you'd like, for a small fee of course, I offer my services to continue said surveillance."
Miette backs away with a very awkward and clumsy curtsy.
Ollystra smiles at the glib rogue and says It's good to hear that the children receive the treatment they deserve. Now, did you mention something about alcoholism?
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"The old woman demonstrated many signs of heavy alcohol use. She reaked of the foul liquid, she had burst capillaries upon her face, and she takes it with her tea."
The half-orc shifts a bit as he speaks further. "She did state that she wants the help of the temple to help her with her habit. I am not sure as to her sincerity or her ability to overcome her liquid crutch."
Well, her sincerity may not be a factor when we come into play. Alcohol abuse is serious indeed. And what of the tasks she lets the children perform? That does not seem to be the right way to treat recovering children.
Ollystra smiles approvingly. That is a fine job you did there. We will surely send aid to miss Baltwin, so that the wellbeing of the children is guaranteed. Miss Baltwin is a bit of a problem case, but her healing skills are unsurpassed. Thank you again, and I will be sure to pass my recommendations onto Ambrus.
With that, she sends the adventurers on their way.
Our adventurers leave the temple quarter and make their way to the part of the city that is the home of sages and scholar, the Wise quarter.
The entrance to the Salhar estate is marked by a wrought-iron gate, where our adventurers are greeted by a guard, and leads them down the halls, explaining Master Salhar is not available, but his most trusted advisor is to negotiate any business you may require. The guard guides the heroes past expansive rooms and decorated halls, arriving finally at a simple study, where a tan-skinned old man sits behind a desk flipping through pages in a tome. He gestures the adventurers into the room with a thin hand, and then addresses the group:
“Good day to you, Pathfinders. I am Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, advisor to Master Salhar. I understand you were sent here to discuss archaeological permissions. Knowing this was coming, I spoke with Master Salhar at length on the subject and have this to say.
“Since Osirion was reopened to exploration a decade ago, adventurers, historians, and treasure-seekers flock to my country by the hundreds, perhaps thousands. While most families with ancestral burial vaults maintain guards and keep their sites out of the hands of casual thieves, not all families have the wealth or power to restrict everyone, and as we all know, not every defense is perfectly secure. Unscrupulous tomb robbers and maligned merchant organizations cause Osirion to bleed relics into the Inner Sea—something the descendents of Ancient Osirion cannot afford. We Osiriani have thousands of years of rich history coursing through our veins, and while that power has been out of focus in recent years, we are content to wait, knowing our enemies will wear themselves down. As they fall into arrogance, folly, or greed, we wait for our return to power, knowing we bear the riches of our ancestors at our feet.
“Master Salhar remains impressed by the Pathfinder Society, orating in their favor a handful of times in front of Absalom’s Grand Council, in fact. Due to previous relationships between him and the Society, Master Salhar has agreed to grant permission to the Pathfinder Society to explore his family’s vaults below Sothis. The only thing he requires is that you retrieve the map of the vaults from his own vault here. The servant will lead you to the basement and show you the room.”
The Sapphire Sage’s eyes twinkle as he smirks knowingly, then he turns back to reading his book as though he had never been disturbed.
The servant then leads the adventurers back through the spacious estate, leading then down sturdy stone steps into a cool basement, ending up -after a couple of turns- at a plain wooden door. He opens the door, gestures the adventurers in. Once everybody has entered, he suddenly locks the door behind them.
The plain stone room contains three chests:
- a copper-banded chest of smooth, dark wood;
- a red lacquered chest;
- a cube of solid steel.
Behind the chests sits a low table holding
- a clear glass jar half full of liquid and
- a covered wicker basket.
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As the party moves through the streets of Absalom to the next task on the list, Frunobulax keeps a watchful eye on their surroundings.
Later....
At being locked in the basement of the home of the wealthy Osiriani gentleman, Frunobulax frowns a bit.
"So, where could this map be? Look there, at that jar. There is a key in it. Perhaps this key will open one of the chests in this room."
The half-orc makes his way over to the jar. He snifs at it. "Hmm... why submerge a key in water. It seems like a highly unorthodox way to store a key." He turns to the others. "Is this some sort of Osiriani custom that I am unfamiliar with? Storing keys in water?"
He looks again at the jar. "Or, is it water?"
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Nijena isn't really expecting trouble, but she keeps an eye out for interesting landmarks or architecture in Salhar's neighborhood, which might tell her more about Osirian culture.
Once locked in the room...
Nijena grimaces. That was unexpected. I trust that the Pathfinder Society would not have put us into the hands of a madman so easily, so I expect this is some kind of test. She takes a deep breath and sighs, then steps over to the wicker basket and gingerly pokes it, shield at the ready in case it contains a snake or some other surprise.
Earlier: While Nijena was pointing out features in the architecture of a large cathedral across a square, Frunobulax suddenly saw a strange sight: a halfling, bulging with muscles, and sporting a large handlebar moustache, watching the adventurers form across the square. As soon drawing the attention of Frunobulax, however, the man disappeared.
Later: Nijena and Frunobulax inspect the jar and basket on the low table first.
Frunobulax takes a look at the liquid in the jar, an sniffs at it, but does not find any reason to believe it is not water, there is no special smell. A key lies at the bottom of the jar.
A soft poke at the wicker basket reveals little. It's made of the kind of strawy material wicker baskets are made of.
Frunobulax, with a stoic gesture, reaches for the submerged key. Initially feeling nothing, a burning sensation sets in as he retrieves the key, and his skin turns a dry, flaky white as the pain increases.
The key is a brass key, inset with jewels.
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Being ever observant, she observes observations on the way there:
And after being locked in the cellar, eerily similar to her childhood:
Miette in an uncharacteristically somber manner saddles up to the items and attempts to unravel the riddles before us:
please add +1 for traps
And for good measure:
Lifting the lid off the wicker basket, Nijena sees a key made of blue stone, with runes carved into the sides. It lies on top of a mass of crumpled linen.
Miette inspects the copper banded chest, then - for some reason - starts shouting at it. Neither action seems to result in much.
A Nijena grabs the key, hoping to hold it up, a snake snaps out from under the crumpled linen and tries to bite the intruding hand. Ever quick with the reflexes, Nijena manages to avoid the creature, and victoriously holds the blue key aloft.
The red lacquered chest has a devious appearance. There's a solid metal plate surrounding a gaping keyhole, and it's pulsing with glowing runes. Quite similar to those on the blue stone key.
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Frunobulax keeps hold of the key as the pain in his hand subsides.
"Nijena, it appears that your key may go with this red lacquered chest. I shall try this key in the one with the copper bands."
Frunobulax carefully places his brass key into the keyhole of the copper-banded chest and gives it a cautious turn.
As Frunobulax puts the key into the lock, it turns a bit too easily. The dust on the floor, the shine of the chest - everything starts falling into place, and Frunobulax sees the chest for what it is: nothing more than an illusion, a figment of the imagination.