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With a firm and clear knock at the door, the party await the Lady of the house to come and greet them. Before long the woman appears, beaming the warmest smile she can manage, her eyes survey the group and her face seems to move between disdain and disapproval for the most part before her eyes alight on Yhen, to whom she begins to speak. ”Madam, you don’t look like you have brought any orphans, nor are you attired like a household matriarch, how can old Auntie Baltwin help you today?”
Kishara makes her announcement to Auntie who turns away from Yhen and looks at her more closely a look of consternation crosses her brow and her earlier pleasant look is replaced, ”Oh so you are, it must be a valuable one to send quite so many people with it… especially ones of a more interesting general persuasion that doesn’t lend itself to too much trust huh?” there is a suggestive tone to her voice.
Grimaldus - Heal
Kishara - Heal
Mandrak – Heal
Tikrit - Heal
Yhen – Heal
Kish, Mandrak, and Tikrit all spot broken blood vessels in the eyes and nose, shaky hands, glassy eyes, and a fine sheen of sweat on the woman.
Kishara can tell that the woman looks a little surprised and a little suspicious about having a group turn up on her doorstep, and that the Lady seems very curious about the party. She seems to look at the demon spawn and the tengu as though they were from a circus, seems to regard Yhen as a woman of respect, Kishara as a bit dubious, and neutral towards Grimaldus.
Aegon uses the momentary distraction at the front door to slip around the side and into the premises with a few other returning children. The children returning look as though they are off to tidy themselves up ahead of afternoon tea, and the smell of freshly baked treats gently pervades the house. Aegon knows he has not been detected, and can at this stage move about freely.
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"Oh yes mum, the Silver Crusade takes a particular interest in good folk such as yourself working to help those in need. They want to recognize your great achievements here with the children."
"We had hoped to witness your legendary skill with healing! I would not delay you from attending anyone who needs it immediately. Lady Yhen, I believe you were interested in that as well, yes?" Kishara tries to give Auntie a winning smile.
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Grimaldus decides his best course of action is to be the strong and silent type. He doesn't try to intimidate or look especially threatening (although a 7 foot tall human in armor with a 6 foot sword on his back ARE a bit hard to miss...). He notices Yhen's success with the old woman and lets her do the talking.
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"do you have anything to dirnk my mouth is partch..." then adding a few second later "the church sent me to entertain the childern"
She looks a bit shocked, ”I can only imagine what sort of Chelish pantomime you might be a part of, though I hazard it wouldn’t be suitable for such young and impressionable children” she shakes her head, clearly the idea is terribly unappealing.
"Oh yes mum, the Silver Crusade takes a particular interest in good folk such as yourself working to help those in need. They want to recognize your great achievements here with the children."
"We had hoped to witness your legendary skill with healing! I would not delay you from attending anyone who needs it immediately. Lady Yhen, I believe you were interested in that as well, yes?" Kishara tries to give Auntie a winning smile.
Aunty seems a little disinterested in your suggestion, appearing to studiously brush off any such conversation... however she seems to be much more interested in the matter when Yhen and Grimaldus chime in.
”Why of course then, I suppose I can take you to see some of the sick children who benefit from my care, and may I say, what fine manners you have...” she trails off looking at Grimaldus. ”Ahh yes, the tour, I do ask you to keep it down little near the sick children, and of course we will need to be swift as it is almost afternoon tea time and the children will need supervision...but perhaps a slice of cake and a cup of tea at before you go wouldn’t be too over indulgent” she gushes to Yhen...and Grimaldus.
The old lady takes you all on a bit of a brief tour of the place, the kitchen, the messing hall, and past the dorm rooms with their utilitarian looking but clean bunks, before she finally urges you to silence and shows you the sick bay. A few children are swaddled in blankets and appear to be receiving treatment for various ailments, and all smile as Aunty walks in. An older child is sitting in the corner of the room and appears to be keeping watch. ”Alls well in here then?” she enquires of the child before he answers in the affirmative.
She moves the party out and closes the door. ”If it weren’t for this house, who’d know how those poor urchins could have ended up. Why its a good thing we receive supplies from all these generous donors, though is it ever really enough?” She really lays the melodrama on heavily. ”Have you seen what you needed? Or can we move on to tea and biscuits?”
Meanwhile, Aegon struggles to get any serious conversation, with the children now becoming more and more preoccupied with the pending deliciousness of freshly baked goods. His enquiries are only really met with offers to chat and play afterwards. ”Hey, new kid, best pastries go fast, don’t dawdle!”
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"Come to think of it, even if 'keeps' something for her own good, if not for her these kids will be out on the streets doing, oh I don't even want to say it." Yhen whispered to Kishara and Grimaldus.
Yhen will pretend to stay for a little and casts detect magic. She wants to know if there is a spell effect or something close to it is in place.
Knowledge Arcana:
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Grimaldus whispers back, "She certainly seems to like you, Yhen. You should continue talking with her. Kishara, the rest of us should try to sense her motive for running this establishment."
Grimaldus addresses Auntie, "Mistress Baltwin, tea and biscuits would be most welcome, but only if we will not disrupt the children with our unusual...characteristics."
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"I guess, I wonder why," then Yhen turns into Auntie Baldwin asking her, "To take care of these kids requires patience and care that no ordinary person has nowadays, some people might not even do it even if you pay them, and here you are doing it for free. It is surely a great act of kindness, I mean no disrespect but I'm guessing there's a story behind it, care to share it to us?"
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Kishara takes advantage of Auntie's preoccupation with Yhen and surreptitiously attempts to make a heal check (just to see what they are ill with) on one of the sick children.
Stealth
Heal
Sense Motive
Perception
As Yhen is speaking to the Baltwin woman, Kishara moves near Grimaldus and whispers for only him to hear
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Yhen engages in a little subterfuge, stalling to follow up on any effects but finds none in place.
Kishara notes the children seem to be suffering the usual symptoms of the various illnesses that plague any large city, but no common theme or suspicious maladies. All appear to be in a state of reasonable recovery. It all seems rather above board and what one would expect of a well run hospice.
Tikrit likewise keeps an eye out for anything unusual, but notes nothing of great interest that would be out of the ordinary in such an establishment.
Aegon stuffs his face with a few cakes fresh out of the oven, he notes that they really are rather delicious and they certainly agree with his picky Halfling standards, he feels that Aunty would certainly do well at a Halfling Country Fair baking competition.
Grimaldus’ raises his concerns, ”Oh never mind that, such a well mannered fellow... you’d set a good example for the children with your fine manners”
Mandrak likewise makes a similar observation to Aegon; that the baked goods are delicious, and its no wonder the kids are happy.
”So, lets enjoy what we may before I have to get back to work” she sits down with a heavy slump as though very tired, she picks up her cup of tea with one hand, and with the other withdraws a small hip flask and splashes a goodly dose of rum into her tea ”did you wish to try some too?” she offers “Ha! Seems most days you need it if you want to make it through the day in this house. These children are killing me! I saw the looks you gave me when you arrived, I knew my game was up right then and there and that you will get back to the Silver Crusade and tell them all about 'Aunty Lush and her special medicine'... but what can I do? Who else will take care of the kids? I have a knack for healing and curing, and I don’t mind the work, that’s how I got into it Miss Yhen, I was just the one who was good at it and word got out. So what now? Am I sunk?”
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"Mistress, the means you employ to cope with your challenge is of little concern to us - rather, we observe the results of your actions, the health and general well-being of your charges, and the overall effectiveness of your house. As my colleague Yhen says, continue your superior performance and the Society's aid will remain."
Once the tea is complete, Grimaldus stands and says, "Unfortunately, we have other tasks to accomplish and must depart. Good day, mistress."
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"I believe we are all in agreement that there is more than enough virtue in what you do here to excuse a little vice... But I do have one more question, if you don't mind. Where do the children go during the day?"]
"The children go to work to earn their keep in the local houses doing odd chores and basic housekeeping, in you know, the nicer homes that Miss Yhen would probably dwell in... everybody has to earn their keep, you know, an honest living" her words laced with accusation at Kishara, "And why not? Why not I ask, failing being able to carry out simple somestic chores what sort of other vocation can an orphan expect to grow into if not adopted out into a respectable home?" she jabs once again with a barbed tongue at Kishara.
Kishara is certain that the woman has something against her, and that the woman is holding something back... she clearly doesn't like the line of enquiry.
She once again turns her smile like a switch was flicked as she addresses Yhen and Grimaldus, "Thank you for your kind words, please don't judge me too harshly for my weakness and indulgence, we all have our little vices, but I understand the Silvers might frown on such matters"
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Kishara recoils slightly at the venom spat at her. Steels herself under the woman's glare and then gives her a tight smile that does not touch her eyes. "Beg your pardon, mum. I meant no disrespect. Just an honest question. But as they say, we need to be moving along. Be seeing you all."
She smiles at the children who meet her eyes as she walks out.
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As we leave, I will attempt to signal Aegon to wait and watch for a while. Once we are out of sight of the house I recommend we stop, discuss our thoughts, and wait for our infiltrator to return.
"I wonder if the Baltwin lady did not like you, Kishara, because you have elven blood, or if she somehow sensed your talents and disapproves of them... Does anyone have any reasons to not overlook her personality and report back on the state of the children?"
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"Clearly she does not like anyone who is not fully human." Tikrit says once they have stopped. "Did anyone see any half-elven, or half-orcish, or any other race of children? Charity hardly counts if it is selective." he says. "She may also be drinking more than is completely healthy - she did not look entirely well."
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"Clearly she does not like anyone who is not fully human." Tikrit says once they have stopped. "Did anyone see any half-elven, or half-orcish, or any other race of children? Charity hardly counts if it is selective." he says. "She may also be drinking more than is completely healthy - she did not look entirely well."
"Indeed, my dear dragon. She spoke only with contempt toward us..." Kishara's gesture taking in Tikrit, Mandrak and herself. "but she practically simpered at the two of you. Especially at "der Übermensch" over there." she gestures toward Grimaldus in an agitated huff.
"Sorry, I don't mean any offence. I just... I can't... Oooh!" She crosses her arms across her chest and begins to pace and speak rapidly and softly in Elvish to no one in particular occasionally slipping into common with a thick Chellish accent. "Honest, she says... show HER honest...!"
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Aegon finishes off his sweet treats, a few extra in his pocket for the road, and makes his enquiries about what the normal day entails, the children fill him in "Hey New Kid, we get up around dawn and make sure our beds are tidy, Aunty gets pretty strict about it and you might get a good shouting if you leave it as a mess, and then after breakfast most of us go to work at whatever houses we are supposed to go to and help out with housework, but it isn't too bad because when you get back Aunty always has something nice to eat and the people at the houses are usually pretty nice to us. We do the work and no one complains, at least we have a bed to go to and Aunty always makes sure we are well."
Not finding out anything else of note, Aegon slips away from the premises and rejoins the party. On being asked to share what he saw, he confirms that whilst the most of the kids were indeed human, there were a few others as well, just a couple. After looking about the area and reasoning that the foreign quarter would be a more likely home for the more cosmopolitan races, you think that the mix is probably 'about right' all considered, although you also have the firm opinion that she was 'rather fixed' in some of her views towards the adults, although Grimaldus and Tikrits line of enquiry does not appear to have such a decisive conclusion.
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"I feel that the old lady is doing a noble deed keeping those children off the streets. Teaching them responsibilities at a young age, and also rewarding them sort of a training for the harsh reality of life. A few rewards here and there won't hurt." then Yhen turns towards her group, "Where to next?
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Kishara listens as her fellows give their evaluations of the Baltwin woman with a look of consternation on her face. When she speaks, it is with a slow and determined manner.
"While it is true that the children seem happy and well cared for, I feel strongly that to report that nothing is amiss would be a disservice to the children as well as the Silver Crusade. She is deep in the holds of liquor-sickness and seemed quite anxious to be rid of our intrusion. Many of the children are sent to work cleaning houses during the day. Whether that is right or wrong, I cannot say. What I will say is that house appears well funded. There are tea and cakes for everyone and enough fine whiskey to keep that bigoted old imp well pickled." she ends with a sour frown. She looks pensive for a moment and then brightens visibly with an idea.
"To be fair, Auntie was rather honest with us about her problems and expressed that caring for so many children is killing her. If you'll excuse my boldness, I would suggest that what Auntie needs is more help. But not in the form of gold... no, she needs more hands and eyes to watch over so many. I'd be happy to check in on them when I have off-time. In fact, I would love it, yes." she ends with an almost wicked looking smile as she remembers just how much the woman resented her presence.
Diplomacy
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Ollysta Zadrian maintains an even toned expression as you make your contributions and share your observations. She gives very little away as you speak, but you still get the feeling she has concerns about what she is hearing.
”The Dawnflower teaches us temperance and patience in all things. Compassion and peace are her virtues, and if people can be redeemed, then they should be, and we will act in accordance with that wisdom."
"Your reports that she has her issues with an excess of drinking and the way it manifests are of concern, however although she is in the teeth of an addiction she still maintains care for others. How often do we see this strange irony, that sometimes it is the healer that ends up needing the healing?"
"Our future actions are something we must consider carefully and your suggestions will certainly help our deliberations, but these are not matters for you to trouble yourselves with any further, for your diligent efforts have most certainly been of great service to us and we would ask nothing further from you.”
She departs once again, both courteous and regal, and leave you to your duties. You are certain that you left a very good impression.
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"I concur with deploying our own scout to observe the one observing us. He may be no threat - perhaps he is from the Society and is sent to observe us on our tasks. If he is something else, it will be advantageous to know more. Stay safe, Kishara. Give a whistle if you require reinforcements!"
Grimaldus will continue to scan the crowds as we walk, looking for anything out of the ordinary.