The kids stop playing and talk with Misarru. Their names are Timothy and Brandon. When Misarru performs his trick several times he's easily able to fool the kids. When Misarru asks about the boys' treatment they look at each other, then Timothy speaks reluctantly. "We help Auntie Baltwin with a few things, there's a lot to do."
The door opens and Auntie Baltwin appears in the door opening. She gives the party a suspicious look. "What are you looking at?!" she says to Artix. "Have some manners, staring at a lady like that!"
Auntie Baltwin sees Misarru talk to the kids, and walks up to them. "Go play somewhere else now, kids." Auntie Baltwin glares at Misarru while the kids go inside. "What do you want?"
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Misarru shrugs and sees if there are other kids outside, then follows Sparkle Weave a few moments later inside, hoping that he can keep the old woman talking and she won't pay him any attention.
When he's inside, Misarru looks around the house with good interest in what kind of skeletons she might have in her closet, literally and figuratively.
"And why does he have to stay here with the kids?" Auntie Baltwin asks Sparkle with a frown. "Shoo! Be off! You go play with those your own age, leave the adults!"
With a look a suspicion Auntie Baltwin follows after Misarru, who walks into her house. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?! Don't force your way in!"
"Oh! the medicines? Uhm..." Auntie Baltwin eyes Chilly with suspicion, while Misarru walks off in her house. "Just... leave it on the kitchen table, and be gone!" Auntie Baltwin then runs after Misarru, telling him to wait and how rude he is.
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Just as I suspected, drinking whiskey through the day. I wonder how she manages to stay on her feet and walk up to us.
When Auntie Baltwin calls for him, he pokes his head round the door and answers.
"Well now, miss Baltwin you were asked if we could talk inside by my gnome friend in front of you, is your mind too addled by the drink to see he has a beard and moustache? I just assumed we could talk in private here as not to draw in the neighbours' looks."
He looks around for one of the kids before Auntie Baltwin gets back inside the house.
If he sees one of them, he asks in a soft tone.
"So does she drink all day long? Is that everything she does?"
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"Miss Baltwin, it is just some formalities. We simply need to ask a few questions and then we will be on our way. But it is nothing that we need to have the neighbors concerned with, you know how rumors can start."
Artix talks as he follows the others inside, taking in the room with steady eyes looking for anything out of the ordinary.
"The kid's dressed up with a moustache and beard, so what?" Auntie Baltwin replies to Misarru.
A young girl comes walking into the kitchen, but backs away when she sees Misarru in the kitchen. She looks a bit scared of the tiefling, and walks off.
Auntie Baltwin points her finger at Artix. "I. Don't. Like. You." She then glares at Chilly. "I want you to leave, all of you."
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I would be a little scared of me as well, though I must say there are uglier kin of mine out there. Hey what's that now, seems she's not only scared but wants me to follow her. Alrighty then, let's see what she wants.
Then he notices the other empty bottle as the girl disappears from his sight.
Well even though that's not surprising, it's not a good sign. Those kids here might relish going outside, but I wonder what else she does to support those children. Do they steal for her, does she beat them? We only have a drunk for now, it could be possible that's enough for the paladin to say no..
He walks slowly back to where the others are, trying not to make a sound as he enters.
Then chats with Sparkle Weave about the bottles.
"One empty whiskey bottle on the kitchen table, one in a room beyond the kitchen. Might be all the evidence we need."
Auntie Baltwin notices Misarru leaves the kitchen, but is too distracted by what Chilly and Artix say to notice his return. "I... W-what questions?" Auntie Baltwins asks Artix, and looks from him to Chilly. "W-what do you want from m-m-me?"
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Yes, does seem that this charity work pays pretty well. So please tell me, what do the children do during the day, other than the cleaning and such?
Hearing a mutter from Misarru, Artix glances and notices the motion.
Also, there may be a issue of concern with the subject of your love of the drink. One would think to watch over so many young ones, not being in the haze of drink would be a better state. Don't you think, Miss Baltwin?
Auntie Baltwin looks from Artix to Chilly, and back. She does a few steps back and bumps into Misarru. "No no no! I... I..." The old lady swallows, then puts her head down and rubs her eyes. When she looks up again Auntie Baltwin's face looks mixed. She seems intimidated, but hesitant to say anything.
With a sigh Auntie Baltwin starts talking. "It's true... I drink a lot. I can't stop, I just... need it... I often tell the kids to go get me some more whiskey, and let them tell the shopkeepers they're buying it for their parents... The shopkeepers usually don't know they're orphans..."
"S-sure I can!" Auntie Baltwin will move out of the kitchen, toward the stairs. "I'll be right back!" she says, and goes upstairs.
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"Hold on right there, miss Baltwin. Let us talk to those kids before you talk to them, we wouldn't want them to be frightened or forced into telling us anything now would we? I'd want to hear their own words."
He moves quickly past the woman and blocks her path.
"One or two of us can talk with these kids ourselves while you can talk about your problems and your good heart with the other two. Now if you'd step aside and let us do our job, that would be most appreciated."
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"Hmmm, well Miss Baltwin that does sound reasonable, not the best thing to be doing but reasonable." Artix cocks his head as he hears Misaruu's statement. "Unfortunately, it seems my friends do not believe you. So I believe we should talk with a few of the children if we can."
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"Chilly why don't you and me keep Miss Baltwin company while Misarru and Sparkle have a chat with a few of the children. That way we can get the bottom of this as soon as possible."
While Artix waits with Baltwin, he'll wander the sitting room looking at the various items around the room. Looking for anything that could seem out of place.
Orin finds the same half full bottle of whiskey the girl pointed out to Misarru, but nothing new.
While Misarru and Sparkle move upstairs, Chilly and Artix escort Auntie Baltwin to the living-room. "Don't touch me!" she says angrily.
As he searches the living-room and the kitchen, Artix finds several stashed curatives from three different charities.
Misarru and Sparkle find several rooms upstairs where ill children lie in beds. A few healthy children sit next to the ill and talk or play with them, and a few kids are doing choirs. In one of the rooms Misarru sees the girl that pointed out the bottle of whiskey. She's talking to one of the ill kids.
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Misarru knocks on the door and looks down at the girl.
"Don't be afraid, I just want to talk with you."
He squats down to be at their level and looks at them with a pity he didn't think he'd still had inside of him.
"So, how come you children are sick? Does 'Auntie Baltwin' do anything for you at all? Please tell me in your own words what happens around here? My small friend and I are here to see if your 'Auntie' is doing her job at all."
The girl looks from Misarru to Sparkle and nods. "She does heal those who need it... A lot of parents bring their children here when they need healing, we're not all orphans..."
Auntie Baltwin laughs at Chilly and leans back in her chair. "Trying to intimidate me, boy? I have nothing to hide!"
"I take care of all the kids that need my help," Auntie Baltwin replies to Artix, "and I give those without a home shelter."
"She..." The girl seems to hesitate. She looks from Sparkle to Misarru, then to the kid in the bed next to her. "She makes us work as servants and maids in other houses in the city, then uses the money for herself. She tells us it's to pay for us staying here, but... I don't believe her... Also, she... she sells most of the things she gains from charities... The money's used to buy more alcohol..."
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Misarru nods and looks to Sparkle Weave.
"That's the real truth we needed to hear. My suspicions were correct."
He claps the girl on her shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll won't tell her anything you said. We'll tell the paladin who sent us though, see if she can get someone better to run this house and take care for you."
With that he nods at Sparkle and heads down to the others.
"The children we spoke to all confirm your story, miss Baltwin. It seems we were mistaken, forgive our intrusion."
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"She had several donations hidden among her belongings. She might be saving them for when they're needed, but something doesn't feel right with that. She may be selling them off or holding them to keep the kids in line."
Artix shakes his head, giving a last glance back at the house.
"Whatever the case, she shouldn't be looking after those children. Lady Zadrian will not like this, but we have to let her know so she can do something about this. Lets hurry back and continue to our next assignment."
The party returns to the Temple of the Shining Star, and reports what they found to Ollysta Zadrian. "What?! She's an alcoholic, she sells what she gains from charities, and she lets the children work for money?! I won't allow this to continue! Thank you for reporting your findings. The Silver Crusade will make a quick end to this."
Ollysta lets the party know she'll report the completion of the task to Ambrus Valsin. She also tells them the Silver Crusade will find a new shelter for the kids in the orphanage.
As the party moves into the Ivy District you all notice the houses are rather large, and probably expensive too. There aren't a lot of people on the streets, but there are a few other carts moving from one place to another. The streets are broad and the trees that have been planted every couple of yards cast their shadows on the sidewalks.
Arriving at Paracountess Zarta Dralneen’s townhouse in the Ivy District—one of several homes the noblewoman keeps around Absalom—the PCs come upon a magnificent gothic structure three stories in height. The ebon lacquered double doors wrought with gleaming silver fixtures greet the characters, a prickly brass cone hanging from a chain serving as the door chime. Moments after ringing it, a servant in loose casual attire opens the door, greeting the Pathfinders as if expected. If questioned, the servant remains quiet, only responding when pressed, and then with only a few simple words: "My mistress will answer any questions you have once we reach her quarters."
Led through well-appointed sitting rooms, ballrooms, and a grand stairway granting a view of an elaborate study, the party finally arrives on the third floor of the house, at the door of Zarta’s personal study, which lies beyond her bedroom. Knocking upon the door and announcing his presence, the servant opens the darkly stained wooden door. A large intricate carpet dominates the marble floor in this sitting room. A chaise sits along the north wall and a desk spans the southeast corner, its chair positioned with its back to the southwest corner of the room. Three comfortable chairs are positioned around a small, low circular table.
Sitting in the chair behind the desk, Paracountess Zarta Dralneen regards the party with a wry smile, putting away a few papers before standing to address the hopeful Pathfinders. "Aldor, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to your other tasks." She then turns her attention to the group.
"It’s always so incredibly adorable when I see a freshfaced batch of Pathfinders. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up. Well, maybe not you." Zarta points at Evan.
"I assume this isn’t a pleasure visit since most of you are terribly overdressed for that manner of occasion, so that must mean you are here for that trinket Valsin has been nagging me about. Seems I can’t get that man around these parts anymore," she gestures, sliding her hand down her body and widening the gesture to sweep out and across the room as if her home were a secondary thought. "On the good side, he always sends me all the precious new recruits."
"Many think we in Cheliax serve and worship devils, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we use the creatures for their power. They serve us and we sculpt their power in our own interests. The world must come to terms with the order of things. People need to know their place and operate accordingly. It is the only way to make order from this world. Too many people stretch too far beyond their station, making waves and eroding the true order."
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Artix's eyes move from over-sized house to over-sized house, taking in the buildings. Such structures. It's amazing what these people can do.
Arriving at the Paracountess's home, Artix follows the servant glancing around at the various items shown within the house, until they arrive at the personal study and are invited in.
He listens to the Paracountess, nodding when appropriate but not entirely believing it.
"Yes my lady. We have been asked to retrieve the item that you borrowed from the Lodge's archives. If we could get it, we will be on our way and you can return to more important business."
Yes, well there's a small pro... The paracountess is interrupted by several loud booms and crashes from the next room. "...problem."
More noise can be heard from the room. "A servant is greatly misbehaving. You’re going to have to deal with it in order to get the trinket." The paracountess goes over to the desk in her study, opening a drawer and drawing out an exquisite silver letter opener shaped like a dagger. "You might need this to get it to submit," she offers with a sly grin.