World's Most Interesting First Steps (001) [PFS Standard] (Inactive)

Game Master Great Green God

"Hello Miss," says Annuit to the little girl. "Do you live here at the orphanage? How do you like it?" he asks, hoping to get some straight answers before Auntie arrives.

"Oh, it's not an orphanage, though there are a lot of orphans here. It is a healing house for the children of the city.... And we love Auntie's cooking, and she tells funny stories at bedtime."

"Oh that's so sweet. Now scram." Says a shabby looking woman in a housecoat. She shoos the girl away, and turns back to Annuit. "Who are you? Whaddya want?"

Gather Info: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Jeanne presents the package and gives a curt nod. "We are here on behalf of the Silver Crusade, with a delivery of medicine." She keeps a close eye on Baltwin and tries to catch any glimpse of the inside from the doorway.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Jeanne No additional info, and you got healed to full while the rest of the PFS wasn't looking.

"OH! Come right in. Come right in. Make sure your hirsute porters wipe their feet. I just got the floor clean." She keeps a particularly wary eye on Keandre.

Children scatter out of sight as Auntie directs the party in.

Auntie ushers the group into a goodly sized, but well worn living room. "Tea?" She asks Jeanne, and then pours two cups one for herself and one for the paladin, tipping a small pewter flask of something into her own and then looking up, almost hesitantly, to Jeanne offering the same. "A tincture made from potatoes, grains, and sweet beets. All natural and healthy. Good for staying alert. Abadar knows." Auntie Baltwin smiles. "So, the Silver Crusade. It's such a fine organization. Is Sister Zadrian with you?" She looks about expectantly.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

"Unfortunately not. So many causes to advance that she cannot be everywhere at once, the poor dear. I am none too familiar with the Silver Crusade myself. What can you tell us about your operation here?"

"Oh." She says regarding the elf as if he was something that smelled really bad.

"Well, I offer my house as a place of rest and recuperation for the city's sick children--many of whom have no families of their own. It is through my own researched healing arts, refined over the years, that I help the little angels fly again." She says to Jeanne. "I don't have much coin so I rely on the goodness, of groups like the Silver Crusade to aid me in my charitable (tax free) work."

Lars keeps an eye on the children, first as if they were a nuisance, a pest.

Then, Under the gruff demeanor and the boastful words, he seems to sweeten, and even plays some music for them, singing merry and rowdy songs

Perform, Sing: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Perform, Percussion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

The kids are nearly drawn out by the beginning of Lars' music when Auntie Baltwin stomps out the would-be musical number by shouting: "What'd I say about singing and dancing!"

She turns back to Jeanne. "It's nap time after all. Sick children need their rest." She says soothingly and takes a long sip of tea.

The children all retreat out of sight to the recesses of the large house.

"I am very interested in magical research. Have you published anything on the subject of healing?"

"'Published'?" She says it like Annuit had proposed animal necrophilia.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, but I'm a very busy woman. My thanks to you and Sister Zadrian for bringing this. This medicine will make a lot boys and girls very, very happy." Antie Baltwin moves to show the party back to the door.

"Couldn't you spare a few moments to show us around? We would love to meet some of the children we are helping."

"If you must...." She leads the party upstairs.

"This is the sick ward."

The entire upstairs seems to be mostly one large peeked space with both long walls lined with beds of which three are filled with child patients--a young girl and two boys, ages 12 and 8-ish. The older boy has sling on one arm while it is not readily apparent why the other two are there.

Sense Motive untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Does the children look afraid of the woman or do they just obey her?

Annuit crouches down and asks the girl, "What is wrong with you, my dear? Got an upset tummy?"

He stands back up and asks Gilga, "Do you often have a large number of sick children? This ward seems awfully large."

The dwarf will inspect the stonework of the building.

Jeanne frowns. "These aren't my porters, they're my companions from the Society." After being led upstairs, her frown deepens a bit. "The entire floor is the sick ward? I must agree with Annuit, it seems excessive, especially with only one person caring for them. Have you considered asking a novice from the Crusade to join you in your work? I'm sure we could arrange for some help if you're caring for this many ill children." Jeanne gestures around the room.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Diplomacy to shift attitude: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Do I notice anything odd about the tea?

Does the children look afraid of the woman or do they just obey her?

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Annuit crouches down and asks the girl, "What is wrong with you, my dear? Got an upset tummy?"

The girl nods her head slowly all while looking utterly adorable and wretched at the same time.

He stands back up and asks Gilga, "Do you often have a large number of sick children? This ward seems awfully large."

"Yes, especially in the depths of winter. Street children you know. And you never know when a plague might sweep the city. Before I became the owner of the house, this room was a family living I think."

Jeanne frowns. "These aren't my porters, they're my companions from the Society." After being led upstairs, her frown deepens a bit. "The entire floor is the sick ward? I must agree with Annuit, it seems excessive, especially with only one person caring for them. Have you considered asking a novice from the Crusade to join you in your work? I'm sure we could arrange for some help if you're caring for this many ill children." Jeanne gestures around the room.

"You pardon ma'am I just assumed," Auntie Baltwin gestures vaguely at the men. "Some of the older recovering kids help out around the place. And I wouldn't want to impose any more than I already have upon the Crusade."

The Tea Depends, if Jeanne says 'yes' to her offer above, she pours a smaller dribble of liquid from her flask into your tea. If you say 'no' it's just sweet tea.

The dwarf will inspect the stonework of the building.

Those would be the outer downstairs walls.

"Say where's that shifty looking dwarf? He shouldn't be wandering about, getting his small, cabbagey-smelling fingers into things." Auntie Baltwin heads downstairs.

I'm accepting the tea. Also, are there any non-human children here? Halflings, elves, etc?

Jeanne nods as she's handed the tea, and nearly spits it out once the alcohol hits her throat. *Cough* Thank you, Miss Baltwin."

Once Baltwin leaves to find Keandre, Jeanne huddles with Annuit. "Sister Zadrian was right to be suspicious. That tea is spiked rather well, and Baltwin's treatment of you and Keandre borders on the unseemly. She also doesn't seem to want us speaking with the children for long."

Annuit wrinkles his nose at Jeanne's tea. "By the smell of your drink there, Miss Baltwin might be ready to go to sleep pretty soon. And then we can investigate more and chat with the children."

He speaks up, "I would like a spot of tea as well, ma'am. But only if you will join me in one! We need to celebrate your fine work caring for these poor little ones."

Hoping to get her drunk of course.

I'm accepting the tea. Also, are there any non-human children here? Halflings, elves, etc?

Yes, but not many, this is a majority human district.

"I would like a spot of tea as well, ma'am. But only if you will join me in one! We need to celebrate your fine work caring for these poor little ones."

Hoping to get her drunk of course.

"Fine!" Gilga shouts back up the stairs. "After I find that sneaky dwarf...."

He isnt trying to be sneaky :)

"He's just an amateur architect. Come- let's have that tea!"

He isnt trying to be sneaky :)

Gilga rushes down the steps ignoring the elf's cries for refreshment, intent upon finding the party dwarf.

"THERE YOU ARE! What are you up to sneaking around and scaring the children?"

Madam, I believe that your outburst is more likely than my admiration of the architecture to frighten the orphans. Are you feeling alright or do you need a snifer of whiskey to calm your nerves? he retorts.

"What! Why how dare you!" She crosses her arms and strikes and imperious pose. "Perhaps you should leave."

Meanwhile upstairs.... hint, hint.

There's something odd in that house, but I can't find what...

perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Annuit takes advantage of the old lady's absence to look through her stuff for any evidence. If the dwarf can stall her long enough, he takes a moment to question some of the children as well. He urges any others upstairs to do so as well.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
diplomacy (gather info): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9

Annuit takes advantage of the old lady's absence to look through her stuff for any evidence. If the dwarf can stall her long enough, he takes a moment to question some of the children as well. He urges any others upstairs to do so as well.

Technically, 'gather info' is a process of spending hours walking about chatting with people, but I take your meaning--talk to the kids.

Lars and Annuit search about the large room. Baltwin seems to keep a small stock of medical sundries in the cabinets, fresh linens in a large linen closet, and cleaning supplies in a broom closet.

By turns the children are alternately repelled by Annuit's stereotypical(?) manner and appearance ("Annuit looks exactly like one might expect a beginning elven wizard adventurer might look like.") elven blandness, aloofness, insecurity, curtness, leering expression, unfeeling coolness, shyness, aggression, irritating voice, foul smell, seeming untrustworthiness, crazy scary goggle eyes, horrible facial scars, sardonic nature, odious personal habits or whatever it is that gives him a Charisma of 7 and intrigued and horrified by his pet toad whom they imagine was a child like themselves before the elf turned them into a toad.

I was admiring the stonework of this place, Madam. The comment was one that I have heard a few times when inquiring about this place. Many people indicated that you had a love of the bottle, but that would be okay with me, your secret is fine with me. he retorts.

"Well, you know, medicinal purposes, for the nerves what with all children and all. Still, let's head back shall we?"

Jeanne chuckles at the children's reaction to Annuit. "Oh no, he hasn't eaten any children or anything like that, and he can do some neat tricks." She hands the elf the rest of her tea, "What color should he make it?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

"Oo, make it green like Missus Ling's" Shouts the young boy.

"No make it rabbit-color!" Shouts the little girl.

The twelve-year-old boy just rolls his eyes and says: "Rabbit's not a color."

Jeanne smiles at the argument. "Do you mean brown? I'm sure Auntie Baltwin already has plenty of brown tea. Does she drink a lot of it?"

"Uh huh." Says the younger boy. "Mostly after we go out to do chores, and at bedtime."

"Oh ho, no! My toad has always been that way." Annuit envies Jeanne's easy rapport with the children.

"Actually changing color isn't really my specialty. But take a look at your ragged shoes!"

Annuit will cast mending on clothing or any other items the children may bring to him.

"Tell me, what kind of chores do you have to do here? Do you ever get play time?"

Being a connoseuer of the finer things in life, which of the spirits do you prefer, Madam? he inquires walking with her.

"Oh ho, no! My toad has always been that way." Annuit envies Jeanne's easy rapport with the children.

"Actually changing color isn't really my specialty. But take a look at your ragged shoes!"

Annuit will cast mending on clothing or any other items the children may bring to him.

With a the phrase: "Calceamenta reparo." and a snap of his fingers the shoes under the girl's bed repair themselves.

The girl and the young boy look on amazed.

"Now the toad! Fix it so it's a pwincess again!" Squeals the girl.

"Still not as good as changing colors." Says the older boy arms crossed against his chest. "What sort of wizard can't do simple legerdemain?"

"Tell me, what kind of chores do you have to do here? Do you ever get play time?"

"Oh we go and do chores for the neighbors. Sweeping, dusting, weeding, washing dishes, doing laundry, filling the fireplace and dusting the chimney. That sort of thing." Says the younger boy with a bit of flounce.

"It's to cover the cost of us staying here." Says the older boy disinterestedly.

Being a connoseuer of the finer things in life, which of the spirits do you prefer, Madam? he inquires walking with her.

"It's a-ah prescription brand. You know for the nerves. It helps me sleep."

Those nerves often need settling. he comments Especially dealing with so many different children

Annuit smiles at the boy's precociousness. "Do you know how to transmute, my young friend?"

"Tried it at a fair once. Seemed lame." Says the older lad disinterestedly.

Those nerves often need settling. he comments Especially dealing with so many different children

"Yes, but anyhow it's nearing supper. Hadn't you and your friends be leaving? I'm sure you have other things to do than hang around in a house of healing."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Tell us, little ones, are you well treated by the old woman? And no lies, please...

"Well sure we get better and go home don't we? Those of us that have homes that is...." Says the younger boy sadly.

Annuit tries changing the subject. "You said something about helping your neighbors with chores. Does Auntie Baltwin get paid when you do that? Is that how it covers the costs of being here?" He wonders how the Silver Crusade would like that arrangement.