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Theon smiles once again as they are ushered into the orphanage. Nodding at her request to wipe their feet. "You heard her, make sure your feet are clean." He follows behind Auntie Baltwin, nodding to the others from behind her.
When she offers him a seat he gladly accepts the offer. "Such generosity, milady. I would love some tea, the dust in the air has set a tickle in throat." He then turns towards the others and gestures dismissively. "Go deal with the medicine, while I speak with our host. Perhaps if you leave us alone for a moments I can garner up some tea for your services. Now begone." He turns back to Auntie Baltwin as the halfling and witch go to deal with the medicine, an apologetic look on his face. "I apologize for my comrades, being a Pathfinder one does not always get to choose one's companions."
He then makes a gesture towards the upstairs. "Sounds as if the medicine is coming to the right place, Lady Baltwin. Do your children get sick often? Perhaps I could mention something to the Temple and garner some addition medicine to your establishment if required."
He takes note of her condition and takes a general look around the area while he speaks with Auntie Baltwin.
Gleek darts back and forth 1st chasing a cat, then being chased by the cat. Obviously some sort of playful behavior.
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"Go deal with the medicine, while I speak with our host. Perhaps if you leave us alone for a moments I can garner up some tea for your services. Now begone."
"Gladly. Should we get any of them prepared for the kids upstairs who sound like they would benefit from them immediately? Auntie, do you know the names of all these cats?"
Auntie Baltwin gives Theon a respectful look when he order's about the other pathfinders. It is nice to see that there are still true gentlemen in the world. Yes if they talk to Ethan they may have thier tea in the kitchen. She pauses for moment then leans in to whisper, Do your... she seems to be searching for the right word, um.. friends drink tea she asks very timidly as she nods towards Akvius and Zarlonna.
At Akvius's question she looks offended, Oh course. They are my children too, wouldn't be very nice to not know your own childern's names.
Soon after the medicine is put away Ethan rolls in a small trolley with a couple cups and a tea pot. Ethan joins the rest of the group in the kitchen and the old woman pores tea for her guest and herself in the sitting room. As she settles back down in her chair she produces a brown bottle form the cushions and pours a liberal splash into her tea before offering the bottle to Theon with a smile.
[b]Oh yes the medicine will come in very handy. Nothing serious, kids just get sick now and then. People say I have a gift for healing and sometimes the send their kids here to be mended.[b] she says boastfully.
[b]You sure have mister! one of the braver kids responds to Maldrek. You want to play? you can use my marbles. NO KEEPSIES though. he adds very seriously.
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Theon glances over at the tieflings and nods towards Akvius. "That one I am sure would appreciate the tea, while the large one out there... Well, I do believe he may prefer something sweeter." He smiles and takes the proffered bottle with a knowing wink before adding a little to his own tea. "As I said before, his is the heart and head of a child."
He waves his comrades off towards the kitchen to speak with Ethan. "Go on, I shall summon for you shortly." He takes a sip of his tea, ponders a moment, then nods and hands the bottle back to Auntie Baltwin. "Perfect. Just the way my esteemed mother always made it. And thank you, milady, mother and father always instilled in us the proper unserstanding for everyone's place in the world." Another sip. "So tell me, how did such a woman as yourself end up running an orphanage in Absalom? You also mentioned that some folk bring their sick children here to be cured? I find such charity work to be generous and essential to those who may not be able to help themselves due to their station in life. You truly are an enigma, my dear."
taking care of kids is about all I know how to do. I was the oldest of nine so I was always looking after my brothers and sisters. I have a litter of my own at one point, once they left the house I didn't know what to do with myself so I started taking in kids with nowhere else to go and taking care of ones that got sick. She puts the top back on the bottle and shoves it back into the cushions.
In the kitchen there are more children and cats. Ethan sits on a stoll reading, two children are 'doing dishes" (mostly just splashing water at each other) and rather rotund boy sits on the counter eating what looks like an apple biscuit.
In the front yard the three boys are kicking Maldrek's but at marbles.
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"Ethan how long have you lived here? It seems Auntie Baltwin keeps everyone happy?" Roscoe asks while watching the kid's expressions. "How many kids live here do you know?"
Roscoe looks around and takes note of the other children doing chores and takes a mental note. I've seen only a few children so far and none of them appear sick.
"It sounds like a couple of the other kids are a little sick here. How long do you think they've been sick?" the halfling asks Ethan. He decides to wait for some answers so as not to overburden the young child before asking anymore questions.
The children playing with Maldrek grow quiet once the tiefling starts to get upset and then mentions his upbringing. The youngest of the three breaks the awkward silence as he picks something up and hands it to the Brawler. Here this is my Lucky Marble. That way you can always play too.
In the Kitchen Etahn looks up from his book and down to the gnome. Oh, Um I've been here about 6 or 7 years I think. Yeah she takes good care of use. Sure she can be mean but she is a real good cook and tells really funny stories at bed time.
When he mentions the kids upstairs Ethan shrugs Don't know some have been up their longer than others.
One of the kids, a young girl (5 or 6) chimes in, Oh! Oh! When I was sick I had to spend a really really long time up there, like 20 hundred years! It was longer than anyone else ever!
No it wasn't! the boy who was helping says, I was up there longer it was like 67 thousand hundred days!
Oh yes, the city is very generous. There are sick children upstairs, nothing too serious, and the Medicine will get used, it always does. Her eyes narrow at the woman. Didn't your Master tell you to wait in the kitchen.
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"What does the medicine taste like that she gave you when you were sick? I know when I was a kid, I always hated anything that my parents gave me, especially when they would say it was going to "help me feel better,"" the halfling says while rolling his eyes. "Most of the stuff that parents say will make you feel better always tastes awful."
"20 hundred years and 67 thousand hundred days, both sound like a very long time though. Are you two better now? I'm sure it must not have been much fun laying in bed all the time, waiting to take your medicine."
Before the two kids doing the dishes can answer, Roscoe turns to Ethan. "What about you Ethan? Did you have to deal with this sickness?"
Yes, well. It was very kind of you to deliver the medicine but I've got a lot to do. Lets gather your friends and I'll show you out. Auntie Baltwin says with a genuine smile.
Back in the Kitchen, the two children seem very excited to talk about their time in the infirmary.
The boy raises his hand as he starts talking Oh, I think my medicine tasted like honey and chocolate and Butterscotch!
Mine was gross like spinach! But I did get to have Honey on my bread fr dinner and it was really good even though I got it on my bed and Auntie Baltwin got upset cause I wasn't supposed to. The girl adds.
The boy and girl started speaking at about the same time and there is a little battle of who can be louder as the go on about the medicine. They then the start to argue with each other about what the medicine tasted like forgetting the other question the gnome asked.
Ethan shakes his head at the two younger kids, most kids are up there for a few day, maybe a week. I never got that sick but I did have to spend time upstairs when I hurt my arm bad. I only had t rest for 2 days but I had to keep my arm in a sling for almost a month. It still hurts some times. He proudly shows his arm off to the party.
Looks like the arm was broken but then set and is healing well.
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"Ma'am, I do not wish to be too presumptuous, but you clearly spend a lot of time drinking spirits of sorts...and yet you do not seem to open the medicines that you are given. Perhaps you should tell us why you have such a great need for medicines if you do not use them? There are many who seek and there is only so much medicine to go around...if you do not need it, perhaps it is best that it goes elsewhere?" She had been holding back and waiting for the time to talk, clearly it was now or never.
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As Theon is about to calm Auntie Baltwin's worries about Ky'ang, the older woman suddenly asks them to leave. 'We've tipped our hand...' Before he could say anymore, though, Ky'ang takes control of the situation and goes on the forward attack. The Lore Warden sits back in his seat and sips his tea once more, closely watching Auntie Baltwin as the woman responds to Ky'ang's accusations.
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"Being up there for a couple days doesn't sound too bad. It sounds like the medicine seems to do the job it was intended to."
-Posted with Wayfinder
HA! "do not wish to be too presumptuous" indeed! Listen here you brute, I don't have to explain myself to you! What are you really doing here anyway? You and your Pathfinders! Nothing but trouble makers the lot of you! You come into MY house and start lecturing ME! I've been taking care of children for longer than you've been alive miss! I just got those medicines! You see how many kids I take care of here?!?! You think I won't need every drop!?!? You see any old Medicine lying about unused? No! You Don't! Now get out of my house before I call he city watch.
She is very upset but also very defensive as if she is hiding something. Something to do with the medicine.
In the Kitchen the kids seem to really be warming up to Roscoe, telling him stories about funny things that have happened, and kids that have been adopted by famous people, and how they want to be adopted.
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Zarlonna comes in carrying a cat, Hey, I think this kitty needs food. Do you help out with taking care of the cats, too? How many cats are there here? Aren't they so cute! What else do you guys help out with? Do you get to go out and play once you're better? Are there any treats for this kitten? What about milk? Do you have any milk? Do you ever have to go hungry? Do the cats ever have to go hungry? Do you like it here? I think I would like it here with all these cats, they are just so cute!
In the Kitchen the kids swarm around Zarlonna asking her a barrage of questions. and bring out bowls of food for the cat.
I help feed the cat sometimes says the girl doing dishes excitedly
There are like a Bajilion Million cats. the boy chimes in
Yeah we help out at lot! Like almost every day! one kid answers
Mostly we help in the kitchen and with the clothes chimes in a younger kid.
Us older kids get to go out and work! brags a tall boy
One time I got to go all the way down to the Puddles to work for a carpenter! Ethan adds trying to one-up the tall boy
I know where the treats are a little girl says shyly and then
runs off to get some for the cats
Yeah! all the kids cheer, We love to play! Do you know any good games!?!
I'm always hungry the rotund boys says as he start eating another apple biscuit
No, we always get good food and so do the kittens, Auntie is a really good cook! and older girl as she pets one of the cats
No she's not! Complains one boy, I don't like eating vegetables
Yeah I guess we like it here, Ethan says thoughtfully, We don't really have anywhere else to go but it is a lot better than not having anything.
In the Yard the boys tell Maldrek Not a lot. We're really lucky since there are a lot of kids to help out Auntie really doesn't make us do much.
In the living room Auntie Battwin eyes Ky'ang fiercely as she stands and points to the front door.
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"Ma'am, I don't think calling the authorities would be a bad thing. Perhaps they could find another home to put these children, since their current caretaker is a drunk. My people are known to be heavy takers of the spirits, but they always maintain someone who is in charge of the children and stone cold sober. You are far from that. I wonder how much you miss being lost in the spirits. How many children you lose..."
It was said rather matter-of-factly, as if she did not see any problems with it.
the woman roars.
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Seeing the direction that the situation was leading, Theon decided to get involved. Considering they had been sent here to gather information only, and more specifically, because as Pathfinders they had no right to be inside the building any longer. "Ky'ang, I believe we have out-stayed our welcome here. It is time to leave before we find ourselves being removed by the authorities." He gives the woman a very serious look. "I shall gather my comrades from the kitchen and we shall be on our way."
Unless Auntie Baltwin protests Theon will stand and drain the rest of his tea. "Thank you for the tea, Lady Baltwin." He says quite sincerely before heading over to the kitchen door and leaning partially in, but still remaining visible to Baltwin. "It is time to leave folks, our welcome has been exhausted."
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Hearing Theon's advice, Roscoe makes a final more direct attempt at gathering information from the children.
"Does Auntie ever give the medicine to any kids or adults who don't stay here in the house to help them get better?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ky'ang's threats do not seem to have their intended effect and the old woman walkes right up to the woman and shakes her finger in the Kellid's face.
You dare come into my house insult me and then you threaten to call the watch! You Stupid little girl what right do you have! What Authority to you have! You are nothing! A worm, an annoying little bug! I am a pillar of this community and well respected citizen!
As Theon calms the situation a little Aunti Baltwin looks a him and nods. Turning back to Ky'ang she lowers her finger, You are lucky young lady, If it wasn't for your Well mannered friend you would be spending the night in jail. She then goes to the front door and opens it making sure everyone leaves.
In the kitchen the kids don't know if the medicine goes to anyone else.
Gleek darts back and forth avoiding the curious arms of children trying to grab him, possibly thinking Gleek is some unique form of cat!
Back at the Temple Zadrian is eager to here your report. So what did you find? Does she use the Aid we give her?
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"The woman is at least good with children, but she had a cabinet full of medicine that looked to be unopened and unused. I do not know what she is doing to heal the kids, or if she is just requiring them to get well on their own, but she appears to have plenty of resources, as they had markers from other charities, as well," she takes a deep breath and the shakes her head, "Also, it should be noted that she is very fond of fire water. She appears to drink quite a bit...and doesn't seem to stave it when the kids are awake. The fact that she is raising young worries me, let alone as a beneficiary of the Silver Crusade."
Yes well, she is one of the only people in this city willing to run an orphanage, and her skills at raising children and tending to the sick are truly remarkable so many people look past here obvious flaws. The fact that she receives multiple donations and has a taste for liquor helps confirm my belief that she might be taking advantage our generosity. Thank you Pathfinders. The Society is in need of people with good hearts who look out for others. Please, if any of you would like to learn more about the Silver Crusade and how we can use the influence of the Society for the betterment of all, contact me and we can talk more about our efforts.
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Theon listens quietly as Ky'ang reports the situation and holds his tongue until after Zadrian has spoken to speak up. "Milady, it is as you say... Lady Baltwin is one of the few good-hearted folks in this city who provide for the orphans of Absalom. While it is possible she may be taking advantage of your temple's generosity, I do believe she is helping the children. Without that orphanage, those same sick children would likely perish on the streets, alone and afraid. Whereas now they at least have shelter and a healing hand to aid them. I would propose the following." He waits a moment to ensure he has the paladin's attention.
"Rather than cutting off your aide to Lady Baltwin completely, perhaps it would be more prudent to send a representative to advise her that her actions have been noted and should she not take the warning to heart... Well, then consequences shall follow. The children should not suffer for the woman's folly. After all, is it not the responsibility of the gentry to ensure safety and security for those who ensure our positions?"