Filimena hesitates before replying. "No, you'd be right," she says to the elf, not quite making eye contact. "I suppose I am looking for them. I assume you are as well?"

Filimena's attention is drawn to the people speaking around her, and particularly to the person claiming that a hooded figure had bumped into them earlier in the morning. She doesn't approach any of them, though. Instead, she turns to the elf, "I suppose we should go in and speak to whoever runs this place. Unless you'd rather see if any of these people might have witnessed anything first."

mood music

The orphanage is slowly coming to life as the shuttered windows are being opened and people come delivering goods to the building. A dwarf comes out from the rear of the building and is picking up debris and such from the grounds. He does stop and help those making deliveries get things into the orphanage then goes back to walking the grounds.

Marik stays silents a few seconds and appears to consider the idea. He's a bit unsure of the way forward in this unknown hunting ground. He has also picked up the conversations happening around.

"I don't put a lot of stock in stories. I'm a wood hunter. I believe in scents, tracks, footprints...stories, especially those of the frightened, have a way to inflate and change like the most capricious wind. But I think you're right. We need to get into that orphanage and get our hand on some traces of these children's. Something to help Rani pick a scent."

He pause and continue.

"It will go faster if we work together. I will go check on these people in the street for some hint of those hooded figures. In the meantime, you could go knock at the orphanage door and introduce yourself. The sight of a halfling woman will probably be less unsettling for human eyes than a mountain panther. I will join you soon after I checked the streets."

The people give Marik and Rani a wide berth as the big cat is unusual in the city. Children often look twice at the pair before their parents pull them along.

OOC: Give me a perception at disadvantage - as people are avoiding you.

OOC:  Marik rolled 15 using 1d20+5. Marik rolled 9 using 1d20+5.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:40, Thu 14 July 2016.

Filimena shrugs in agreement, and heads over to the front door of the entrance. It takes her a bit of effort to reach the knocker, but she does eventually manage to by tiptoeing. She gives the door a good, solid knock.

OOC: Sorry if this is a bit brief. Heading off to a job interview!

Marik heads out into the streets leaving Filimena at the door.  A few moments after the knock an older halfling female opens the door.


"Can I help you?"

---

In the street Marik and Rani continue to cause quite a stir as people move out of the duo's way and actively avoid them. Unfortunately whoever was talking about the hooded figures is no where to be scene.

[Private to Marik: Just FYI w/ disadvantage you take the lower of the two d20 rolls.]

Marik grit his teeth and stops Rani.

"This won't help anything. Better return to the Orphanage"

Marik makes the panther turns around and run back to the Orphanage. Upon arrival, he guide Rani toward the side wall, out of view of the front door and dismount. He then makes his way slowly toward the front door, where Filimena stands, leaving Rani to lay against the brick wall, paws crossed under her head, waiting.


[Private to GM: Yeah, I'll just put the lower number from now on.]

The older halfling women eyes the pair, "Who are you two ... gentlemen?"

OOC: Before responding, Marik look at Filimena and will wait for like five seconds in game to see if she respond first. If not, he will talk.

Filimena frowns and purses her lips slightly, more surprised than bemused. Gentlemen? She smiles at the halfling woman and replies, "We're here to enquire after the missing orphans. We understand you require help locating them?"

OOC: Marik stays silent at the moment, content to let Filimena start the conversation. While this happens, he tries to come up with the proper words in Common to introduce himself. He also think about what would be appropriate manners in human settlements in this situation based on what he has seen so far. He tries not to show anything, but this is quite stressful for him.

She gives Filimena a weary look, "I'm sorry young lady, my eyes aren't what they used to be first thing in the morning. You say you're here to help with the children? Just a couple of kind souls?" The older halfling looks a little closed off, jaded if you will.

OOC: Give me a persuasion roll

Filimena is momentarily taken aback by the halfling woman's apparent lack of interest, but quickly regains her composure, and resumes her smile. "Why yes. It wasn't too long ago when I was a child myself, fending for myself on the streets. Do you think we could come in and ask a few questions?"

OOC: Filimena the Gentle rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  Persuasion.

Oops.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:22, Mon 18 July 2016.

The frown on the older halfling's face deepens into a scowl. "Just going to show up and hope for the best then? We don't have any money to pay you campaigners... mercenaries." she spits the words out as though they where daggers.

Seeing the situation get out of hand, Marik try to intervene, speaking quickly to try to overcome his shyness. He don't really know how to reassure the women of his good intentions.

"I...I'm not here for money, even if it can sometimes be useful. I can provide pretty well for myself in these lands. I'm here...We're here because we saw the posts in the tavern telling of mysterious children disappearance three days ago. We thought you could use some help. I'm a good tracke...well I've never hunted in cities before...but I think...I'm pretty sure I could find them with a good scent... Or at least find theirs bodies and figure out what happened and..."

Filimena starts to get impatient. She's had enough of trying to be nice, and decides to get straight to the point: "Alright, listen, ma'am. If this were about coin, we wouldn't be here. My friend and I have skills far beyond your grasp. There are a dozen jobs out there waiting to be done. We're here because of the children. They're orphans. Nobody cares about them. Certainly you don't seem to. Have you had any other offers to help? I doubt so. We don't need your help. You need ours. Do you want it or not?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:34, Tue 19 July 2016.

"Think you can intimidate me into letting you in here to terrorize these children?" she pauses and looks over Filimena's shoulder. "Acolyte Laro! Praise to the saints you're here! Please speaks with these two...

Behind Marik at the entry to the grounds is a man dressed in priest's clothing, a 7'-0" tall dragonborn in chainmail with a shield, as well as Marcus that guy you both met at the tavern last night.

Approaching the orphanage entrance, Marcus hears the tail end of the ensuing conversation, and shakes his head.  Great, he thinks to himself.  Just the sort of disturbance I was hoping to avoid.  He remembers these two from the tavern, wanting to answer the advertisement for assistance to the orphanage.  Evidently, they haven't managed much as of yet.  But if the situation can be calmed down, perhaps they could all work together.  You can never have too many eyes and ears.

"Ruphus, if you would..?" he says to the acolyte, gesturing toward the halfling standing in the doorway.  "Please introduce us and explain our mission."

"You two," Marcus says, looking back at forth between the crippled elf and the thin waif.  "Come here for --"  He stops short, realizing that he has no business barking out commands, and softens his tone.  "Can we please speak with you for a moment?"

Marik had shut up the moment Filimena started talking again, and listened awkwardly as the rest of the conversation played itself out...

He hears a commanding voice calls behind him and turn quickly to face the three figures. He recognizes Marcus as the brooding man in armor from the tavern yesterday.

Confused, but curious, Marik gingerly approach the three individuals, ready to call Rani at the first sign of trouble. Not really knowing what they want with him, he stands before Marcus, trying to appear as calm as possible, and gently nod the head to show he is listening.

Ruphus frowns, "You know these two?" he asks Marcus in a low whisper.

"Yes, I saw them earlier this morning," Marcus says, not deigning to whisper.  "They're here to help, I'm sure.  But first, let's explain our presence.  I believe this woman knows you?  Please tell her that we're here to investigate, as Priestess Urikas asked."

Marcus attempts to lead Ruphus up to the elderly halfling in the doorway, nodding politely to her as he approaches.

Filimena raises an eyebrow and turns to face the heavily armed man from the tavern, putting on a confident front, although she's secretly relieved at the appearance of someone who seems bring to with him at least some authority to act over the orphanage. She doesn't say anything, since he seems to want to address the elderly halfling woman at the door first.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:06, Wed 20 July 2016.

Ruphus follows Marcus then walks past everyone to speak with the older halfling woman, the two go inside and the door closes behind them leaving the four of you to talk.

Raszire turn to the elf "Greetings, I am Raszire Toumash priest in the service of St. Fenwyn."