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.
Close by are a market and you can see some of the neighbours on their small balconies, enjoying the afternoon.
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Well, I do not want to brag, but let me say that I know a trick or two about talking with people. So if you would let me handle this, I think we will all benefit from it.
Not to think what would happen if we´ll let those two barbarians over there handle the talk. They would most likly try to eat or steal the old lady or do some other pretty messed up stuff.
Mira walks up to the door, knocking on it, friendly asking:
Hello good Aunti Baltwin? Are you home? We would like to deliver the medicine from the Silver Crusade and talk a bit with you about your marvelous work here!
An old ragged woman appears from some other room behind.
Oh hello there little one! You bring the medicine from the silver crusade you say? I didn´t know that they put little ones like you in charge of something so important like this. Have you been a brave one and this is your reward? I hope you did not break or spill it! This medicine is most important for the children here. I´m so glad and thankful to the Silver crusade. They are so noble. Just how many kids would die without them? Even with my few healing skills i could not save them all. The medicine is a great help.
Would you mind giving it to me now?
I can offer you some tea for your efforts.
Auntie Baldwin stops and looks at you, awaiting your reply.
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Urgs, she´s a ugly hag. And she smells like what? Cabbage and wet dog? Thinking of it, I don´t wanna know. And she called me what? Little one? Stupid human. Well, give her your best Mira, and we´ll be gone in no time.
Well met, Aunti Baltwin. My name is Miranala Giarin and those are my most humble and faithful companions. Yes, we do bring the medicine for you. And no, I am not in charge or anything like that, I am merely a good and kind soul like you that wants to help. It would not dream of spilling or breaking any of this most needed medicine.
I know a thing or two about healing myself, but I am shadowed by Onvyr over there, he is the tall and gentle elf, who is most versed in the healing arts. If we could help you treat some of your patients we would be most happy.
Gladly we will give you the medicine and have a tea. And maybe you could show us around, so we can admire your work and help where we can?
Surprised by Onvyr speaking she makes a pejorative gesture replying tauntingly:
Ah you brought an elf. Did he wipe his feet before coming in? We are in civilization here, so we don´t need leaves to treat wounds and the like. The medicine from the silver crusade will be enough.
Please come along here, little girl, but take a look that the elf and the beast there don´t touch or break anything. I´m sure there hands are dirty.
She leads you into the next chamber, which resembles something like a living room and is very clean. Children pass by, some with cheap toys playing, others with cleaning rags. Auntie Baldwin stops one and tells him to fetch hot water from the kitchen. Gesturing you to sit on some old chairs, she pours tea from a pot the child brought. From a nearly empty whisey bottle on the table she adds some into her cup, then offers you some along with the tea.
Also, looking at the big Norse Auntie Baldwin says:
You don´t need to talk to people around here about me, you can ask me directly. I´m standing right in fron of you. Maybe if you take of that helmet you can see me. Or do you have some problems talking to women?
With this words, she gives him a cup of tea.
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Oh yes, he may not look like it, but this elf does know his manners. And please do not mind the men who apparently do not know how to talk with anyone, not just women. They are good at what they do, but their manners need some shaping. Believe me, I am doing my best and in time I am sure they will be able to talk like proper gentlemen.
Looking at the whiskey, Mira gently shakes her head:
Thank you, but no, I do not like to drink alcohol. But I will gladly enjoy the cup of tea, thank you very much.
Auntie Baldwin, if I may ask, I really would like to know more about you. Your work here is quite fascinating and I am awed by your self sacrifice in the name of the children. How did you come to your position? Please, tell me more!
The characters going outside receive a questioning look from Auntie Baldwin, but with some excuses she let´s you go. Walking around and talking to some people you find out the following:
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.
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.
Between the guys hastiliy departing without finishing their tea and Onvyrs strange eye rolling Auntie Baldwin grows a bit impatient. Still she continues to talk with you, but wears an open sneer on her face.
Ah my little one, you´re just like a child. There are many things you still don´t know. she says patting Mira on the head like an actual child. Just look at them, elves always stay elves. Even now this one is making strange gestures. At least he has more manners than the other two or that green creature there just standing in the corner without moving or talking. Is that one even intelligible?
As you talk, some kids enter the house walking into the living room straight, but when they see you talking to Auntie Baldwin they hesitate and after a sign from her leave. Probably to play outside again or upstairs.
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Ugh, gotta wash my head REALLY soon after this is done...
Oh the green one is quite intelligible, but as far as I can see only if there is a bad man to punish for his wicked deeds. And only with his chain. Ah, you know how it is with elves. Even if they have manners, they often go back to the ways they are most used to, in this case sprinkling leaves on the wounded. Even if it may seem strange to us, it often helps more then you think. And please do excuse the other two, as I said, they are quite a hard bit of work.
So, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted? Ah yes, your work here. Could you tell me a bit more about it and about yourself?
What is that elf doing to my child? I have enough healing powers on my own and the medicine to take care of them! Don´t need you and your leaves!
Anyway little one, i grew up as the oldest one of nine siblings taking care of the other ones, my brothers and sisters. Then i had some children on my own, but some day they were old enough and left to explore the world, just like you do. Seldomly see one of them. I felt lonely so i took in an orphan, then another one and another one and soon after that i opened the orphanage in my house, taking care of the little louds ever then. Sometimes the local churches and some charities from give me some help like the medicine you brought from the silver crusade.
I also have some healing skills and parents from all over the city send me their sick children to treat them.
Where have your friends actually gone? I thought they just went outside for some fresh air? Perhaps you should take a look after them when you finished your tea. I´ll have some work to do soon anyway, need to cook for the children. Auntie Baldwin says after glancing nervously at the half-orc. She already finished her tea and pours herself another cup with a good shot of rum in it.
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Ah, your story is quite fascinating. Thank you very much for sharing it. The children are really lucky to have you. Please do not mind the big one. He just wants to play. Look how happy he is just watching the children! He would never do a thing to them! Or so I hope. He might as well eat em, as far as I know... As for the elf, as I said, old habits stay with you your whole live, so please forgive him.
My friends? Oh well, they just wandered off again. They do it from time to time, they are so curious they can not help themselves! Did you say cooking? I absolutly LOVE cooking! Do you think it would be possible for me to help you?
Mira can´t see any flaws in Auntie Baldwins Story. It seems perfectly fine to her.
Ah well if you want to help me cook you can peel those 20 pounds of potatoes and then the 10 pounds of carrots over there. Also 50 onions need to be cut for the stew. It´s so nice you want to help me little one. The other kids normally don´t like those chores.
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Ba crap, of course Mira, you had to say it. Now you have to do this boring and stupid work just for not keeping your trap shut and what for? Shes certainly not going to talk to you more when you are doing the legwork and she is somewhere else.
Smiling, Mira nods happily:
Oh yes, I really like helping. Those are quite a lot of vegetables, so lets get to work.
After having done the cooking, Mira´s going to stay a bit longer, seeing what happens with the medicine we brought.
If nothing shady is going to happen, Mira says her goodbys to Auntie Baldwin and goes back to her companions.
nose, shaky hands, glassy eyes, and a fine sheen of sweat
on the woman. Clear signs of alcoholism. Also, in her sitting room is a nearly empty bottle of whiskey from which she poured in her tea several times, as well as a half bottle you saw before glancing into the kitchen.
Clearly not liking being touchedby an elf, Auntie Baldwin protests:
What is that? Take your hands off of me! I´m an old lady!
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Standing between the big man and Baldwin, Mira tries to de-escalate the situation:
Hey, what is going on? Why are you suddenly so angry Buliwyf? This woman may drink what she likes! That is not our concern as long as it does not hinder her work with the children, which is apparently not the case! I think it would be best if we all calm down and leave Auntie Baldwin alone. I believe we are done here!
What the hell? All the talk for nothing, just because the old hag likes her whisky? This whole thing could only be more messed up if those muscleheads start to rough her up...
Auntie Baldwin shoots you an incredulous look and laughs.
Ha! Seems most days you need it if you want to make it
through the day in this house. These children are killing
me!
Of course i love my children, why else should i do that? But from time to time you need something to calm your nerves, especially when you are alone like me. That something became a sip of whisky and that sip became bigger. Now i´m kind of addicted to alcohol i admitt it. It´s so terrible! Please don´t tell anyone the failings of an old woman! If you havesome guidance for me i would be glad to accept it! But i can´t loose the aid of my charities!
What? You were searhcing my house secretly? Who do you think you are elf? I didn´t allow that! I think this goes to far a bit, you are outstretching my hopitality. Perhaps i´m an alcoholic, but i can still heal and take care of my children. I suggest you leave!
Auntie Baldwin seems quite nervous and irritated, you can see the sweat on her skin now.
After she simply ignored Buliwyfs first attempt to intimidate her, his second entry seems to leave an impression. After the help of Mira, that is.
Startled, the sweating Auntie Baldwin confesses:
I....I...I admitt, i sold those often, as a side business. There´s a guy living some streets from here who did that for me. My own healing skills and magic were enough for the children most times, if not i used some of the remedies. Also some of the children did work or me, working off their logding as maids and servants when they were healthy. An old woman like me has to make do somehow. I need the money to run the place and some for the future! Please don´t do something bad!
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We will do the only right thing to do: Report you. Your wicked deeds end here, old woman. You had no right to do what you did, even if you needed the money. You could have found an other way. But you took the easy way out. Now you have to live with the consequences.
Oho, how very righteous and virtous of me. One day it should go to a nice little temple and play a bit with those stiff clerics and paladins. Such wonderful and tempting toys they are.
Ah please, please good people have mercy with an old woman! You can take all the whiskey you want, there is more in the kitchen. She hands over the bottle from the living room. I didn´t know of any other way and i meant to harm. The children are all well and get a good education! I care a lot or them! With tears and sorrow in her eyes, the old woman looks after you as you leave. The three gold coins vanished quickly in her pocket though.
You go on your way back to he Ascendance Court to report to Ollysta Zadrian what you just learned and you are scandalized about it. Some of you also are glad that Karthacus kept quiet and didn´t eat one of the children.
You took 2 bottles of whisky, both a little less than half full/empty. Depending on how one looks at it, Onvyr kind of bought that whisky.
Arriving at the Ascendent Court you report back to Ollysta Zadrian from the Silver Crusade, who is thouroughly displeased by the results, not with you, more with Aunti Baldwin. You are pretty sure there will be serious troubles for her, misusing the trust of the Silver Crusade like that. Seems she messed with the wrong good-doers and made it on their to-smite list.
The next stop on your list would be the offices of the Osiriani nobleman Dremdhet Salhar in the Wise Quarters, which are pretty close for Absalom standards. After just 15 minutes in a carriage sponsored by the Silver Crusade for your good deeds you arrive there.