"Right," Marcus says, first glancing around briefly to see if anyone was lingering nearby or eavesdropping.  "Marcus Bournstride.  The Church of St. Cuthbert has taken an interest in these kidnappings.  I've been asked -- commissioned, I suppose -- to investigate, along with this fellow here."  He nods toward the dragonborn.  "And I've had a Cuthbert acolyte accompany us to explain the situation to the orphanage."

He pauses for a moment, studying faces and gauging reactions.  "I've also asked the acolyte to speak to the children," Marcus continues.  "It's something he's got experience with.  Perhaps he can find a witness to the kidnappings.  In the meanwhile, I intend for us get a look at the interior and speak to the staff."

Marcus looks back and forth between the elf and the waif.  "I should warn you, though.  One of the local thieves' guilds is involved," he says.  "They've proven themselves willing to resort to violence to keep us from discovering the truth.  So if you want to help, stick close, keep a sharp eye out, and let's see what we can discover."

mood music

The rain picks up as the group talks about whats going on. People are moving quickly to get in out of the rain. A older dwarf stands off to the side of the building under an awning looking up at the sky as though hoping the rain will stop.

Marik do not mind the rain- He's used to it- and turns toward the towering dragonborn, feeling quite small on his wooden legs.


"Moien Raszire. I am...very pleased to meet you..." reply Marik, trying to remember the correct greetings rules in the Common Tongue.

He was about to continue, but shut up when he hear Marcus stating his plan. Definitely somebody used to give commands and orders.

"Agreed. I will let you and the acolyte deal with the staff and the children. I'm not very used to the subtleties of social interactions among city-dwellers. But I'm a good tracker. If I can find some traces of these children or their attackers, like a piece of cloth or clues on their last whereabouts, I could probably pick up a trail."

He paused.

"Oh...and don't worry about thieves. I've dealt with bandits ambushes in the past. I may be crippled...but I'm not defenseless." he continued, cracking a little smile. "And I can tell you this one isn't either..." he say, pointing to Filimena.

OOC: Can I make a check to know if Marik ever heard of the church of St. Cuthbert and St. Feywind?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:04, Wed 20 July 2016.

OOC:  St. Cuthbert is a human saint of wisdom, dedication, and zeal; more concerned with law and order, with converting the uninformed, and preventing backsliding among the faithful.

Feywind you've never heard of must be a Dragonborn saint.

Razire move over to the older dwarf, "Goodday sir, might I impose upon you to share your awning with myself and my friends until this rain slows?"

The dwarf looks up at Raszire then at the others, "Well ah dinnae see whys nae ... Nae sure we'll a' fit though." He glances back at the sky shaking his head, "We micht be standing 'ere a while though, a'm jaromir copperbeard th' gardener 'n' grounds keeper 'ere at th' orphanage. Fae th' young priest a'm guessing ye a' ur 'ere aboot th' missing bairns?"



OOC: Translation from "dwarf common" to common common ;)
"Well I don't see whys not ... not sure we'll all fit though."

"We might be standing here a while though, I'm Jaromir Copperbeard the gardner and grounds keeper here at the Orphanage. From the young priest I'm guessing you all are here about the missing children?"

Raszire motions to the others to join them and takes a spot barely under the edge of the awning leaving enough room for the others, "Yes sir, the Church of St. Cuthbert has asked use to look into the matter. Do you live here as well or only come during the day."

Filimena doesn't need the shelter too badly. She's used to operating out in the rain. Still, it'd be a good opportunity to listen in on the conversation. between Raszire and the dwarf. Filimena joins them under awning, smiling and thanking the dwarf as she does. She's small enough herself that she fits quite comfortably.

Jaromir smiles back atFilimena in almost a fatherly way - as often the way of dwarves and halflings. He shifts his eyes back up to Raszire "Ah bide 'ere a' mah lee, orphanage gimme a roof ower mah heid 'n' fairn in mah belly as lang as ah keep th' grounds up. " He holds his hand out and lets the rain pool into it then after moment pulls the hand to his face and drinks the bit of rain. "Kirk o' Cuthbert bin guid tae th' weans. We teuk alot o' weans in efter th' fall o' th' Southern Sanction, parents sent thaim tae Titan's Gate tae fowk bit th' family didnae aye tak' th' young ones. Damn pity if ye ask me, fowk nae taking bairns juist cause thay weren't auld enough tae wirk. "



OOC: I live here all my life, orphanage give me a roof over my head and food in my belly as long as I keep the grounds up .

Church of Cuthbert been good to the kids. We took alot of kids in after the fall of the Southern Sanction, parents sent them to Titan's Gate to family but the family didn't always take the young ones  Damn shame if you ask me, family not taking children just cause they weren't old enough to work.

"Yes it is a shame, an unfortunate tendency that I have witnessed particularly in large cities. Some people get so preoccupied with were the next gold piece is coming from that they end up having no concern about family, friend or neighbor." Raszire pauses for a moment and watches the rain, "Mr. Copperbeard, it is my understanding that the children that were taken were to boys and two girls. Did you know them."

A frown forms on Jaromir's face  "Aye ah knew thaim. Thare wis Deakon 'n' Terrem - git taken fae th' boy's room while Evelyn 'n' Lucinda wur in th' girls. Deakon's folks didnae come back fae an outing in th' deid kingdom ah think - smart bairn wanted tae gang tae korim 'n' learn tae craft constructs. Terrem cam 'ere whin he wis a newborn. Evelyn wis a wheesht young thing, likelie cause her parent died fae th' filth fever that spread thro' some seven years ago noo. Lucinda's maw jus' gave her up ... brassic thing."


OOC: Yeah I knew them. There was Deakon and Terrem - got taken from the boy's room while Evelyn and Lucinda were in the girls. Deakon's folks didn't come back from an outing in the Dead Kingdom I think - smart kid wanted to go to Korim and learn to craft constructs. Terrem came here when he was a newborn. Evelyn was a quiet young thing, probably cause her parent died from the filth fever that spread through some seven years ago now. Lucinda's mom gave her up ... poor thing.


[Private to GM: Deakon Stormshield (male dwarf, age 12) A bright dwarf, Deakon was taken from the Lantern Street Orphanage three nights ago. The orphanage took him in when he was six years old, after his parents failed to return from an adventure.

Evelyn Radavec (female human, age 9) A quiet, sullen girl, she was taken from the Lantern Street Orphanage three nights ago. Her father and mother succumbed to filth fever, which spread through Titan's Gate seven years ago.

Lucinda Aldreen (female human, age 8) A gregarious but superstitious child given to the Lantern Street Orphanage at age four by her poverty-stricken mother, Lucinda was abducted from the orphanage three nights ago.

Terrem Kharatys (male human, age 9) This orphan, taken from the Lantern Street Orphanage three nights ago, is a dour and temperamental lad. His parents died shortly after his birth (circumstances unknown).
]

"I was under the impression that all the doors are kept locked ... for the children's safety i am told ...., any idea how the kidnappers got in to the children?"

As this conversation happens, Marik joins the group and adopt a similar position to Raszire, at the edge of the roof with part of his left side exposed. While Raszire and Jaromir talk, he takes off his bow from his shoulders as well as a piece of cloth rolled next to his quiver. Listening closely to the conversation, Marik wrap up the bow into the cloth to protect it from the rain, while his mind races thinking about what the dwarf said of the children kidnapping.

"So they were caught while still inside the Orphanage..." He thinks for himself. "So they are chances that the kidnapper left some traces of his presence in here...Well, thinking of it, there is also a good chance the kidnapper is one of the staff. This way they could easily open the doors and fool the children's into trusting them. "

OOC: Can I insight check Jaromir?

OOC: of course!

OOC: Marik rolled 13.

Marik doesn't believe the dwarf is lying about anything nor does he seem to have any malicious intent but rather he's an old fellow who's sad about what's happened.

Several minutes pass, the rain becomes more of a drizzle with the sun peeking though the clouds occasionally. Ruphus steps around the building with a smile, "Come inside Headmistress Tashykk has agreed to speak with you while I talk with the children."

Ruphus leads the group into the ground floor of the orphanage. The place is dimly lit and contains a main hall with a staircase leading to the second floor, a kitchen with stairs leading down to a cellar pantry, a dining hall, a playroom for the children, a schoolroom, and staff quarters.  Waiting at door to the school room is Headmistrees Gretchyn Tashykk. Ruphus nods to Tashykk before heading up the stairs

---

"Please come in and have a seat, let us speak way from the children." the older halfling waits for you all to come in and sit before closing the door behind her, "I must apologize to you two," she says looking at Marik and Filimena. "Please understand you were the second group to come here after the initial guard investigation. "


[Private to GM: The second floor is divided into three rooms: a spacious bathroom with two large tubs and two large bedrooms filled with cots. One of the bedrooms currently holds 19 girls; the other holds 18 boys. ]

Filimena pauses before the Headmistress. "Not at all," she replies, with a slow bow. "I apologise for being a bit rude myself. I imagine this must be a... difficult time."

"The second group? What did the first group looked like....if I may ask? Mariks says, one eyebrow raised in surprise.

Though eager to begin asking questions regarding the crime, Marcus bites his tongue, allowing the Headmistress to first answer Marik's question.  It did seem suspicious that another party attempted to investigate -- and apparently made a poor impression.  Perhaps they purposely intimidated the children, in an effort to keep them quiet?

She nods, "A couple of half-elves who said they worked for the mayor ... names were Fario Ellegoth and Fellian Shard. They asked similar questions to the guards. Talked to the entire staff - Jarmoir, Neva, Temar, Willow and Patch before they left."

Making a mental note of the names, Marcus ponders whether to track those fellows down later, to see how far along they are in their investigation.  Perhaps they could exchange information.  But for now, it was time for his team to have its own look around.

"Well.  If it's not too much trouble, we'd like to speak with the staff ourselves, as well as inspect the premises," Marcus says.  "In particular, if you can provide a list of everyone who has access to the keys to the locks on the children's doors, that would be helpful.  We're not making accusations, of course," he adds.  "We just need to be thorough."

Raszire sat quietly and listened to the conversation, trying to make sure he remembered all the names and facts that were mentioned.

"Of course, of course I'll gather the others for you to talk to. As for the keys I'm the only one with the key to those rooms."