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Well, if no one else wants to try to gather info other than Dust and Ree, I guess you all arrive in the Eastgate district.
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.
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As you arrive in the area, you are reinforced by the ulfen paladin Krieger, dispatched by Zadrian after some of the relief supplies for the orphanage were discovered to have been stored separately.
The GM strongly recommends that those who ignored the first chance to do so (and those newly arrived) should attempt Diplomacy (Gather Information) or Knowledge (Local) checks.
While most witnesses admit she is a mean old bag, they also all reply they think it is great what she’s doing for the children.
Miltivis, who runs a nearby market, claims he’s served Auntie Baltwin for over 30 years, and while a good customer, she is quite demanding and often rude to the other customers. He says she’s kept his supplier of fine whiskeys in business for decades.
Gilga Baltwin’s neighbors Travost and Tirelle Anthos are frankly tired of the noises the children make and the retinue of cats—though they do appreciate the latter’s mousing skills. They admit to being happy when Auntie Baltwin sends the children “off into the town” during the day, as it gives them a few hours of peace and quiet before they return in the evening.
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.
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Krieger runs up to the party, panting slightly. He glances at each of you, a broad smile on his face. He is unarmed, save for a spiked gauntlet and small brace of javelins at his back, but is heavily armored, a heavy steel shield strapped to his arm.
He lightly cuffs Dust on the shoulder, his large fist resting on her shoulder.
"My friends, you have started without me! No matter; I come bearing news. I ran into some nice people in the streets who told me interesting tales. Gather around, I shall share!"
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Krieger thinks for a minute, trying to remember what he was just told.
"I have heard that the 'old bag' is mean but is good for the children. I think that this is good, but I do not understand! What does it mean, 'old bag'? And how is an old bag taking care of children? It is a bag! Very confusing."
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And of course there is nothing novel about being propositioned by Zarta
Dust shrugs then gives a nod to the newcomer.
I have heard a few things about town. She has been here for a long time, likes the drink, and is a bit surly. She also sends the children in to town during the day to fend for themselves, but as long as they are old enough I don't see much harm in it. And art least they have a home to come back to.
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The area around the house appears to have children in the age range of 6 to 10. When Vili grabs one, the boy shouts in alarm.
"Ahh! She's in the kitchen mister!"
Dust
Vili
Ree
Paly
Krieger
One of the felines, a black cat with big green eyes, is standing just inside the glass front door to the house, staring at you all intently - more intently than a normal animal might (i.e. intently enough that you notice it to be very odd).
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Now that Ree points it out, you all notice...
One of the felines, a black cat with big green eyes, is standing just inside the glass front door to the house, staring at you all intently - more intently than a normal animal might (i.e. intently enough that you notice it to be very odd). As soon as it notices more than one or two people looking at it, though, it slinks off.
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Not even a split second goes by from when Krieger knocks that the door flies open so hard it's a wonder that it doesn't come off its hinges, revealing a standing there. Gilga Baltwin glares at you all, prodding Krieger in the chest with a wooden mixing spoon.
"Hey! This is a home for sick children, not a social club or bar for you to be banging on the door to!
And you - get away from those kids, you old gray weirdo!" (shouted at Vili)
The children you were speaking with scatter with a "We'll go play out back, Auntie!"
To Ree, she looks down her nose at. "And you put some clothes on, you fiery hussy!"
Then to Dust, "And just why are you bringing this circus act to my home, hmm!?"
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The old bag squints her eyes at Ree, then nods to Dust.
"Oh, well of course I have time for deliveries! Please, come right in, and mind the cats...and you," she scowls at Krieger, "make sure you wipe your feet and don't knock anything over in that big clumsy metal clownsuit."
Once inside, she takes a small dish and offers it to Ree. In it is some brown powdery-like substance. "Sprinkle a little of this and the other hussi...cats...will come and play with you. Just not Pickles - he's touchy about most people." Her eyes flash to the unusual black cat you noticed earlier that is now perched on the kitchen counter, still watching all of you with an intent glare.
Looking around, you notice that the ground floor is rather clean and well-kept, with some children playing with toys, building blocks, or cats. There is a ground-floor dormitory for the children with a few more beds than there are occupants, but you see a cat-proof wooden divider going upstairs where the sounds of coughs and sniffles can be heard.
"Welcome to Auntie Baltwin's Home for Recovery. This is mainly an orphanage for children who've lost their parents to mishap...or murderous adventurers like the Pathfinders or the street gangs or the Aspis or the Crusaders or the Sczarni families or, well, so many other things in this cruel, cruel world. I also take care of sick children and keep them upstairs in their own rooms so they can get better without risking the others. Feel free to look around all you'd like, but make sure you wash up" (her eyes flash to Vili) "if you're going to go upstairs, and don't let any of the cats up there either!"
The kitchen is where the neatness ends. Several stoves have an array of soups, poultices, and other things simmering at once, and several dark brown bottles are arrayed on a shelf that even an adult would need a stepladder to reach (although no such ladder is present).
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A nonplussed Krieger carefully checks his feet and stows his shield on his back. He leans into the stairwell, listening to the sounds of children upstairs, before walking into the rooms where the children are playing. He idly gives cats scritches as he passes.
When he finds enough space near the playing children, he plops down with a soft thump, and greets the children warmly.
"Hello, I'm Krieger! I'm a friend of Mrs. Baltwin. How're you?"
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(modifiers hidden)
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As Ree opens up a closet next to the kitchen near where Dust is standing, Auntie Baltwin (who had stepped out into the yard to yell at a few of the children for digging up some mud in her backyard and telling them to wash up before coming in for lunch/soup) re-enters, and now turns her voice to the ifrit.
"You snooping hussy! Get away from ma'things, you scantily-dressed flaming tart!"
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Krieger whispers to Dust.
"Dust! The old lady makes the children go into the streets to peddle for money so she can quote 'buy them medicine' unquote. She is stealing and using the children! Clearly a villain of the most vile sort."
Dust glares at the back of Auntie Baltwin, angrily gesturing in her direction.
"We must DO something."
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"alright alright!" Ree quickly closes the closet door and ducks into the kitchen to whisper to the others. "Can I stab her? I kinda wanna stab her. I found medicine from at least a couple of other charities sitting in that closet!"
She looks at the old bag then back to Dust and Krieger. "So...stab yes or stab no?"