|
Harrow smacks the 'pimp' upside the head with his nodachi pimp cane dealing 12 points of damage to the creature.
Immediately after it receives a concussion, Serwe tells it bedtime stories. ( ) At which point it promptly falls asleep.
Arrack then delivers the killing blow!
____________________________________________________________
"Well, now," Zarta positively purrs, "that didn't take long, did it? I knew Ambrus would send me only Pathfinders who could perform well under pressure."
|
|
____________________________________________________________
"Uh...never mind," Harrow says. "I not hungry anymore. Also, should tell you...I has halfling girlfriend..."
The half-orc quickly exits the room toward the next quest, without even bothering to check the box for the contents they came for.
"You can invite her along," Zarta offers while Harrow is already halfway out the front door.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Arriving at the Temple of the Shining Star, the party is 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?"
|
"Of course, we will take great care to see your medications delivered. We'll try and get a good read on this...headmistress is it? Yes, yes Hmm." Serwe glances towards Arrack, trying to remember something he may have mentioned about his affiliation with this Silver Crusade.
"An acquaintance of yours, my friend? She is quite striking." the little wayang says with a half smile.
|
|
Ollysta Zadrian maintains a sincerely humble countenance. "Thank you for the generous compliment, my wayang friend." She smiles warmly at Serwe in a way that conveys genuine affection and respect. "In this case, I hope that appearances are not deceiving, and the orphanage does indeed attend to the needs of the children."
Addressing the entire group, she continues, "Please. I urge you to hurry. I know that the Venture Captain has laid out a litany of tasks for you. I would not wish you to incur his ire with tardiness. Thank you all for your assistance with this matter."
On the way to the orphanage, the group has opportunities to speak with locals.
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.
|
|
The boys shrug. One of them slides over to let Harrow into the game. "That one is mine," he points out. "Here. You can use this one," he continues as he hands Harrow a dented, chipped marble with multi-hued striations. The marble looks home made--as though someone melted spare bits and squeezed them together by hand to create it.
|
|
The children giggle at Harrow's stilted speech.
"Most times it's OK. Sometimes Auntie Baltwin can be mean," offers the first boy. "Especially when she makes us clean our rooms and brush our teeth! Yuck!"
"But, she's a good cook," continues the second. "I love her ratatouille; it's delicious. She sautes the aubergine and the courgette separately and then layers them expertly!"
"Yeah," agrees the third. "And I don't mind helping out. It's nice to keep busy. It's better than begging for scraps in the street," he explains holding up another slightly-malformed marble.
|
|
Serwe regales the gathered children with The History of The Marble.
"A marble is a small spherical toy usually made from glass, clay, steel, plastic or agate. These balls vary in size. Most commonly, they are about 1/2 inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.54 cm) in diameter, but they may range from less than 1/30 inch (0.111 cm) to over 3 inches (7.75 cm), while some art glass marbles for display purposes are over 12 inches (30 cm) wide. Marbles can be used for a variety of games called marbles. They are often collected, both for nostalgia and for their aesthetic colors."
She starts losing the children; they feel like they're watching a educational special on PBS.
Then she turns it around, sharing all kinds of unintended and devious uses for marbles.
|
|
Serwe draws deep on her cob pipe and makes her way towards the house. Once there she raps on the door a few times with the end of her walking stick.
So far so good, now to see about this Baltwin woman.
She exhales a cloud of smoke before the door opens, as a kindness.
Some people don't take kindly to smoke in the face.
|
|
"Isn't that... nice... You think you can help," Auntie Baltwin says in a condescending tone. "I'm sure that you're quite busy planning for some grand adventure. Why don't you just drop off the package with me, and you can be on your way."
Serwe can tell that Auntie Baltwin doesn't take her seriously.
|
|
"You would dismiss charity offered to a charitable organization. You should guard your emotions more Lady Baltwin, I have read you like a book. I care not what you do to provide for these children as long as they are safe. I would rather speak in private but if you'd prefer to have this discussion in the streets with the neighbors watching we can do that as well. Do not underestimate me, I am no child."
Serwe rolls up her sleeves to reveal the intricate bleach-dot scarification of perfect pentagonal overlapping shapes made of countlss tiny white dots that mar her ink black skin like stars in the night sky. She says a prayer in her mother tongue.
|
|
"Oh, dearie," Auntie Baltwin continues just as condescendingly as before, "I gladly accept this package. But you'd best be on your way before someone misses you."
Then she sees the half-orc that Serwe calls for, "Oh! Children! Get away from that thing! You don't know where it's been! Oh, my, my, my. Wash your hands you three!"
|
|
Serwe shrugs
"I've learned all I need to learn. Harrow, give this condescending windbag her shipment of medication for the children. Once Lady Ollysta Zadrian hear's that you've refused to allow us to see that the children are being well kept I expect it will be the last shipment delivered to 'Auntie Baltwin's' orphanage."the dark little woman rebuts.
"Auntie Serwe has a much finer ring to it, yes? I have a mother's heart and coin to spare. Yes, I believe I'll let the Silver Crusade know their envoys were barred from your residence and that I will be setting up an orphanage worthy of their sponsorship."
Serwe waits for Harrow to bring the foul woman her package.
Even if she's not selling it she's hiding something. Something dangerous enough to bar a group of Pathfinder envoys from the Silver Crusade. It will not stand, no it will not. Auntie Serwe's Lovehome perhaps. I've always disliked the word orphan.... the wayang woman packs her pipe and thinks about the future.
|
Harrow shrugs. "Maybe no problems with way treat kids. But I report you alcoholic who mistreat lots of people. Who knows if mistreat kids? Maybe better places send medicine."
Harrow prepares to leave, flexes his massive muscles to the boys in the dirt, then tosses each of them a piece of silver.
"Buy good steely," he says.
|
|
Serwe follows Harrow. "So what do you think she's hiding? She could be smuggling black market goods to keep the children fed but what if it's something worse? Of those we saw, the children seem okay but to not let us in? What if I wanted to adopt a girl-child and pass my woods-witch ways on? Is that not the point of an orphanage, to take care of babies until they are adopted? I am womb cursed and can bare none of my own. I like it not at all. What should we tell the Crusade?" she draws deep on her pipe, her dark little face conveys a huge amount of concern.
Exhaling and calming down a bit "Sorry if I over shared. I do not mean to make you uncomfortable speaking of my own burden." she adds, sounding a bit embarrassed.
|
|
You all complete the fourth and final task on your agenda and start to head back to the Grand Lodge. You must pass through the Foreign Quarter back to the Society’s headquarters. Along the way, a throng of people blocks the street ahead. A performance art group commandeers the street, drawing graffiti to create a jolly hellscape complete with illusory devils comically dancing around in circles. A few citizens avoiding the crowd slip off-street through a nearby alley, the only egress past the gathering.
The party takes this shortcut also. Then alleyway is thrown into a hazy fog as a strong voice calls out strange sounds. Once that happens, the common citizens flee.
Arrack
Ledford(Enemy4)
Larkin(Enemy3)
Serwe
Harrow
Tacitus
Deandre(Enemy1)
This is round 1.
|
|
Unfortunately, Harrow misses.
____________________________________________________________
Warming up Ledford's will save for Serwe's slumber hex:
He's still awake, if that's what Serwe does.
____________________________________________________________
Tacitus holds his action.
____________________________________________________________
Deandre is next. Deandre is evil, and a little insane. After moving forward, Channel Energy:
Will Saves:
____________________________________________________________
Arrack swings at Ledford:
,
Ledford is down!
____________________________________________________________
Halli moves forward and casts Magic Missile at Arrack.
____________________________________________________________
Tacitus comes out of delay and uses a full round action to feed Arrack a potion: .
Arrack now has 7 HP, but is prone and has dropped his weapon.
____________________________________________________________
Harrow and Serwe are up!
|
|
At once, Serwe's bleach-dotted skin takes on a graven palor. As the negative energy cascades over her body she cackles with insane glee!
She will then maneuver into a position to apply the Healing Hex to Arrack!
|
|
Halli does not answer Harrow because he asked her too hard. She's unconscious.
Serwe heals up Arrack.
Deandre channels energy again.
Negative Energy Damage:
Will Saves:
Arrack:
Harrow:
Serwe:
Tacitus:
Ledford:
Halli:
Arrack stands up and picks up his weapon.
Tacitus drinks a potion to heal himself.
Larkin was going to jump down and attack, but, seeing half of his companions laid out, he continues running along the roofs--away from the fight.
Harrow and Serwe are up.