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"Racist! Racist! I bet you like anyone with brains you can eat! As the post-dead you probably think you're beyond that sort of thing! Probably have some sniggering gnoll friends. I'll have you know I have a friend who's from Varisia! Where do you get off talkin' about racism! Next thing you know they'll be inviting goblins to join that silly explorer's club the Pathfinder Society! Mark my words!"
If you think I am undead, then go fetch someone from the temple. They can show you I am not! The woman dives back into the window and there comes a noise of someone rummaging around looking for something. "The temple of Lamashtu no doubt! I know your kind! You die and come back! If that's not being undead I don't know what is! Where's that crossbow at! Come peepin' in windows trying to see me in my unmentionables! I'll show you, you coffin-renter you!" Outside, the crowd around the property begins to grow.
"*blaarg*. You crazy lady! *blegh* Do dead things retch like this? If you *brlmff* if you do not cease this madness and cooperate at once. I will have no choice but to report your behavior to the temple and recommend that they send their charity elsewhere! You are teaching these children to fear people who look different than they do and that is a poor example." "And I'll have no choice, but to report an undead lecher creeping around the house scaring little children and harmless old women who tend to sick orphans!" shouts the harmless old woman from the window.
Unfazed, Ramachandra calmly keeps peering through the windows, taking note of anything he might see.
"And stay out of my yard you lich-loving pervert!" Screams the woman from upstairs. All the passersby stare.
"Was it the blue man who was with us outside, child?" "'Inspect the windows'? The man is an undead abomination and a Peeping Taran to boot! I say take that shovel and dig him a place he can't climb out of!"
"What?! Go summon the district guard! And you, night soil man get out of my house!" Auntie Baltwin shrieks at Doughlas. She takes off one of her shoes and waves it menacingly.
Doughlas declines the offer of tea and stands back to make sure no one bumps into him. "You? What are you doing in here?"
Ramachandra decides to take the opening to examine the grounds of the house. He'll peer into any windows he comes across on the ground floor.
There comes a loud scream from down the hall. Perrine: The additive seems to be strong whiskey, or perhaps a alcohol-based paint remover.
Gilga Baltwin takes the group into a sitting room filled with lacy doilies and cats who mostly disappear the moment they arrive (the cats that is, not the doilies). Aunti Baltwin pours out some tea for those who want some and then for herself adding a generous amount of something from a big mostly empty decorative glass bottle. "Want some? It adds a bit of kick to keep you going through the day." She takes a slug. "Now what can I do for you?"
"Aren't you adorable. Almost like a real cleric." Auntie says in baby talk, smiling, and pinching Perrine's cheek as she passes.
Ramachandra:
The ruckus in the house subsided the moment that the woman arrived on the scene. Upon seeing the package marked with the seal of the temple on it the woman perked up, but then listening to Esper she frowned. She looked up to the post-noonday sky, and over at the less-than-professional seeming members of the party (Doughlas's gardener's boots and big shovel, Rama's unhealthy blue countenance, Einarr's well, Einarr-ness). The woman listens to Esper, looks at the party over again and then allows them in--all except Ramachandra. "Some of the children are ill as it is. I can't have the undead walking about the house. It's unhygienic. And a bit creepy too. You'd give my precious little angels nightmares." "And you." she indicates Doughlas. "You're late. The evening nightsoil man has already been and gone." The woman looks to the sky once more and back to Esper as if to make sure. "So you can just be off." She turns to the remainder of the group now with a horrible saccharine smile. "I'm Gilga Baltwin, though everyone here calls me Auntie. Come in. Come in. We can have tea while we talk."
dice:
Esper:
The girl seems honest to Esper. A shabby-looking woman in a housecoat comes down the hall toward the door and interposes herself between the party and the girl. "Oh, that's so sweet? the woman says to Esper. "Now scram." she says to the girl and shoos her away. She turns back to the party. "Who are you? Whaddya want?"
.... "Out. And you can be sure that I will have words with Sister Zadrian and the Lord Mayor."
Auntie Baltwin kicks the party out.
Kale? A truly magnificent vegetable. Thank you for the invitation to dinner! he remarks., "You're not! It is difficult enough feeding my charges." She says cresting the stairs. The three children instantly begin feigning sleep. *snore* Auntie stalks straight up to Jeanne. "My lady, should you ever visit my home in the future I would ask you to please curb your dwarf. He's a devil of nuisance, and no doubt will have caused a great many of my charges to be put off their suppers."
And what is on the menu for the evening? he inquires. "It's a healthy blend of all-natural ingredients." Auntie says climbing the stairs up. She pauses. "I'm pretty sure there's kale in it."
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."
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."
"Well, you know, medicinal purposes, for the nerves what with all children and all. Still, let's head back shall we?"
"What! Why how dare you!" She crosses her arms and strikes and imperious pose. "Perhaps you should leave."
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?"
"Fine!" Gilga shouts back up the stairs. "After I find that sneaky dwarf...."
The dwarf will inspect the stonework of the building.
"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.
"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."
Drinking or otherwise inspecting the doctored tea. Perception DC 12: Tastes like it has a solid hit of alcohol in it.
"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.
"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.
"'Published'?" She says it like Annuit had proposed animal necrophilia.
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.
"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."
"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.
"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?" |
