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Riika finished mixing her magic-infused potion and chugs the dose in one gulp. Doubling her size and increasing her weight significantly.
She then fortifies her ground a bit, trying to distribute the strain on the flooring near the hole. And proceeds to pick up the crate. Possibly after being tethered.
Riika reaches out for the crate and succefully picks it up with her increased strength. She places it next to her.
Oric eagerly comes running over and, together with Riikka, opens the crate. The rescued crate holds a smaller mahogany box inside, which contains five books and a few loose sheets of paper in a leather folder. The titles and subjects seem completely unrelated to each other: Practical Thaumaturgy In Accordance with Creation, Geographic Anomalies of the Inner Sea, Under Kaer Maga: A Trial and Travel, Physiology of Dragons: An Illustrated Reference, Lost Sarusan. The leather folder contains cargo manifestos, warehouse inventories, and other financial logs from a dozen different merchant houses and trade guilds. The crate also contains 10 sets of masterwork thieves’ tools, three flasks of alchemist’s fire, a flask of acid, a dozen jars of various inks, a footprint book*, adamantine weapon blanch*, three bags of powder*, a deck of marked cards*, and two sets of average loaded dice*.
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Oric Casts detect Magic then takes out the the sacks he carries out of his back-pack and begins to load up the books. In a separate sack he loads up the three flasks of alchemist’s fire, a flask of acid, a dozen jars of various inks, a footprint book*, adamantine weapon blanch*, three bags of powder*, a deck of marked cards*, and two sets of average loaded dice*. In his third sack he adds in the MW thieves tools. He slips the leather folder in next to his journal in his back pack.
Speak up if you want any of this right now. We can share it out once we get out otherwise.
As he is loading he glances over the things he is loading looking for auras. After loading up the sacks he casts detect Magic again and looks around the room.
Broaker mind helping carry a couple of these sacks? He offers the bags with the flasks and the thieves tools.
And so the party travels back to the Pickled Imp, to deliver the items Guaril requested.
"Ah, you're back!", Guaril says as the party enters his shop. "Did you find what I requested from the warehouse?"
The party gives the shopkeeper the items, and his face brightens. "Ah, thank you! I take it you didn't run into any difficulties? No? good! I'll have Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin know you completed this request."
Before the party can get in a word, Guaril urges them to leave. Back on the street, the party has to decide where to go next.
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Oric hails a cart.
4 to the Temple of the Shining Star in the Ascendent court please.
On the ride Oric reads through the contents of the leather folio in detail looking for any items of interest to him or the PFS.
He takes some notes in his journal as he does.
It might make sense to divvy up the flasks of alchemist’s fire, flask of acid, and bags of powder. The rest isn't likely to be needed in a hurry. I'll take a bag of powder, a flask of fire, and if no one minds I like to look through the foot print book.
At the center of the City at the Center of the World lies the Ascendant Court—Absalom's religious hub, the site of ascension of four gods, and the final resting place of the Starstone itself. The Ascendant Court is the religious center of Absalom, holding the preponderance of the city's temples as well as the cathedral of the Starstone Located at the physical center of Absalom, it serves as a hub between other districts: all roads in the Ascendant Court lead to the Starstone.
Not far from the Starstone Cathedral one can find a number of major temples such as Sarenrae's Temple of the Shining Star. When the party gets closer to the Temple of the Shining Star, they get a feeling something’s wrong.
Arriving at the Temple of the Shining Star, you’re 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 party’s 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?”
Ollysta shakes her head at Oric's question. "I'm not sure if Gilga Baltwin is honest or not, but I hope this delivery by Pathfinder agents will confirm whether the orphanage is operating on the up and up. I ask you to be observant and report back to me any evidence that Baltwin isn’t worthy of the Silver Crusade’s aid, if you find any."
When the party has no more questions for Ollysta, they will leave the Temple of the Shining Star. Before the party heads to Auntie Baltwin’s Home for Recovery, they may wish to ask around about the orphanage and the headmistress’s quality of character.
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Oric relates what he has heard to the others.
While no one seems to know anything outright wrong with Mistress Baltwin some things don't seem to add up. She apparently has a taste for fine spirits and can afford them, she sends the children into the city somewhere during the day, has shady characters passing her coin, and cheats at cards. Everyone has their vices but I think we will need to do some digging.
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.
The kids stop playing and stare at Oric. "Quite good, I guess," one of them answers. When Oric asks about the boys' treatment they look at each other, then the same boy speaks. "She is a bit mean, maybe... But her cooking's nice! And she tells fun stories at bedtime."
The door opens and Auntie Baltwin appears in the door opening. She gives Broker a suspicious look. "Package, you say? What kind of package?"
"What are you looking at?!" she says to Rabbai. "Have some manners, staring at a lady like that!"
Auntie Baltwin sees Oric talk to the kids, and walks up to them. "Go play somewhere else now, kids. Don't disturb this nice man." Auntie Baltwin smiles at Oric with her perfectly yellow teeth. That is, the few of her perfectly yellow teeth she still has.
Auntie Baltwin glares at Broker. "I am! What about it?" she asks rather unfriendly.
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Aunti Baltwin! It is so nice to meet you. We are here on behalf of the Pathfinder Society with a delivery of medications and to see how we might be able to further support your charitable works.
Oric stands up from the circle of boys and gives them a smile as he moves to the front door with the others.
"Scout inside alone"
Auntie Baltwin smiles her yellow smile again at Oric. "Of course, of course! Come in, I'll show you the orphanage." Auntie Baltwin starts walking, motioning only Oric to follow her while she glares at the others.
When Oric tries to relay his message to Rabbai, Auntie Baltwin stops walking and glares at Oric. "And what exactly is he supposed to scout for?"
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"Aunti Baltwin, my friend Oric here has it right - I usually do a subtle check for common pests and help remove them, all gratis, of course. It's just something we like to do to help out, but we don't like to make a big conversation of it because it can be a touchy topic".
He smiles warmly.
Auntie Baltwin looks from Oric to Rabbai and back. She glares when looking at Rabbai, but smiles friendly at Oric when she speaks to him. "Ah, I see. I'll show you around, mister... what's your name again?"
"Only 'cause it's gratis," Auntie Baltwin says to Rabbai, pointing her finger at him. Auntie Baltwin then turns her glare from Rabbai to Broker. "Put it on the kitchen table."