It is early morning on the second day of Rain in the 721st year of the Imperial Age. It is drizzling outside 165 Vock Row, and Gallesini, the first of the three emperors of the dawn, has just begun his brief rule of the 24 Gods of the Hours this day when the Erac Kunstler's apprentices begin to wake.
His house staff has already been awake for more than an hour, preparing breakfast for the almost two dozen people that call Kunstlerhaus home, setting up the day's alchemy work, cleaning the library for the day's lessons and putting the topiaries Kunstler has been experimenting with into a secure greenhouse where they cannot escape and harm anyone during the day.
The apprentices ignore the sound of the ringing bell -- that's just the butler, Argus Blackmore, summoning the staff for some purpose -- but when head apprentice Cicero Brackenbury starts yelling a moment later, he gets their attention.
"Mairan, Thurst, Aeshen," Argus calls pleasantly, but with the urgency that tells the staff not to tarry, "Please report to the library."
Mairan brushes off the leaves from her hands and sucks at the cuts on her arms from battling the topiaries back into their cages. The gardener nods at her, and she turns to head back into the townhouse.
Thurst pulls his head out from beneath the boiler in the basement -- the master enjoys hot water baths, which are a luxury even in a city where running water is common -- and wipes the sweat from his eyes as he puts his tools away. The malice of the bound fire elemental in the boiler radiates through the great bronze vessel, and he'll be glad to get away from it for a bit.
Aeshen is in the kitchen, helping the kitchen staff with the first of the day's shopping he's brought back from the market. He works the water pump and runs his hands under the icy water and neatens his hair before responding.
"Mata! Ella! Valana!" Cicero's voice is anything but pleasant with the lower-ranking apprentices. "Get dressed and get to the library, chop-chop!"
The three female apprentices he's called all share a single room on the main floor. Mata has the usual death threat directed at her familiar from the mouse on her chest -- "get rid of leezard befor i keel hem" -- and crumples it up as all three apprentices hurry to get dressed before heading to the library.
Aeshen deftly set aside the 4 blood-oranges he was peeling for a particularly fetching half-elven kitchen-servant. The oranges were a rarity this time of year and Aeshen was proud to have found them. He had gotten 3 dozen for scarce pennies more then standard oranges cost.
Aeshen checked his hands to ensure they were free of the red juice before presenting himself before the butler. He greeted Argus respectively and moved to stand to the front of him, and slightly to the side - allowing room for the other 3 staff members. He was a tad curious as to what this summons might involve, since he was quite certain he had nothing in common with the insane dwarf perpetually buried in the boiler... as to Mairan, he wasn't even sure who that was.
Aeshen stood casually waiting for the other requested staff members to join him, comfortable that all would be revealed soon enough.
Mairan brushes her sleeve over her face to try to wipe away any dirt and sweat. Paying no mind to the others called except to hope their presence might foretell a somewhat less stinging task, she briskly makes her way to the library.
As she pulls a her clothes on Mata asks Anyang what he did to the mouse, a question she asks every morning and does not expect an answer to. "What did we do now?" she wonders aloud. She splashes her face with the cold (and frankly not that clean) water in the jug on the dresser and ties her hair back before heading to the library -- experience has taught her that looking unkempt in the Kunstlerhaus is frowned upon very slightly more than being late. (Or at least, if you are going to be late anyway -- an easy thing to do, since one is late as soon as one is summoned -- being unkempt makes things worse.)
By the time Cicero had called for the Apprentices, Ella had been lying awake for a couple hours, her body's time clock not yet adjusted from working in the kitchen.
She sighed.
Getting up out of bed, Ella moves towards the dresser to fetch her robe moving methodically, as if she planned every step hours ago. As she shimmies into her robe, her sleeve catches the lip of Mata's jug, sending it crashing to the floor.
She sighs again.
"Sorry."
Swiftly, Ella mops up the water with an old robe, then places it gingerly over her bedpost to dry. Quickly gathering herself, Ella fixes her bed and heads out toward the library.
The sound of a muffled explosion can be heard as reverberations are sent throughout the lower levels of Kunstlerhaus. "Fan-tastic!", shouts the dwarf. A few moments pass until the sounds of the harried mechanic can be heard from outside the library, reassuring terrified servants. "Aye, aye, there's nothing ta worry about ya wee fairy. Just a naughty valve," Thurst guffaws at his own joke.
Thurst enters the library and is surprised to see that he isn't running late for a change. His meticulously groomed beard stands out in stark contrast with his soot and grease stained body. While not being so unkempt as to make others uncomfortable, he still appears out of place when among the "fancy lads" of Kunstlerhaus. His unusual mechanical mace stays ever-present at his side.
Nearly as quiet as the murderous mice in the house, Valana rises from bed and neatly makes the bed. Avoiding the wet floor, she steps to the closet to shrug into one of her apprentice robes.
"Good morning", she says softly to the other two apprentices in the room. Then she gathers up her spellbook and quickly retreats to the library, hoping to avoid the notice of Cicero Brackenbury.
Erac Kunstler is at his harpsichord, abusing it badly just a day after Weldin, the house musician, has retuned it. Beneath his dressing gown, his shoulders are stiff and all assembled can read his body language from across the library: The master is in a foul mood. Again.
Argus, as always, is unflappable, and faces the assembled staff and apprentices, his back toward Kunstler.
"As you may know, the master is currently working on investing some of his profits from his delving in the Dungeon in a country estate. To that end, he has been speaking with representatives of the Bankers' Guild. Something interesting has come up during his discussions ..."
"Damned insulting bastards!" Kunstler bursts out, hammering at the harpsichord keys.
"... regarding something that was seen in the basement of the guildhouse," Argus continues placidly. "A ratling. This is not unremarkable, of course, as ratlings, ratlords and even ratbrutes are distressingly common beneath the city. If it were merely an ordinary ratling, the guild would have put up a reward and had some delvers come by and put the miserable beast to the sword and be done with it."
"This one had four arms," Cicero leers. "Maybe it's a mutant, maybe something magical happened to it. Anyway, they begged the master to take care of it."
"They certainly should have!" roars Kunstler, still playing. "I'm not some damned rat-catcher!"
"... and as such things are beneath him," Cicero continues, winking nastily at those assembled, "You lot have been deputized."
"You are to enter the sewers near the Bankers' Guildhouse," Argus says. " The guildhouse itself does not have valuables stored within, but there's a certain perception of security the guild would like to maintain. Find the ratling and any of his spawn, and eliminate them."
Cicero takes six sets of folded papers from a silver tray nearby and hands them out.
"Congratulations, you're all Guildsmen with the Delvers' Guild. This entitles you ..."
"To pay me back those 20 gold in dues!" Kunstler snarls.
"... entitles you to a 10 percent discount from Ebbert's in Delver's Square and and access to the Delvers' Guild Library and Maproom here in Oldtown."
"You will need to visit the library and determine whether these ratlings are using any known catacombs," Argus says. "If they are not, you will need to map out their lair for resale back to the guild. In addition, those of you who attend services at Lothian the Redeemer have no doubt seen that there is a bounty on ratling tails. You will need to bring both your map and tails back here and the master will deliver them to the guild. Staff members will each receive 100 gold pieces ..."
"Minus 20 for guild dues!"
"... will each receive 80 gold pieces as a bonus from your employer, or 80 gold pieces taken off your debt to this household. You will also receive a share of the tail bounty and map revenue. Apprentices will each receive individual instruction with the master, who will teach of them a rare spell of their choosing. The master will also loan each of you a piece of equipment from his own collection to help in your mission. Should it be damaged or lost, the cost of replacing it will of course be added to your debt to this household."
"Go change and prepare your spells," Cicero says. "You've got an hour and a half to get ready. I'll answer any questions you've got before you go."
Argus claps his hands together twice.
"Off you go. Meet back here when you're ready to set out."
Temporarily ignoring the staff and apprentices around him, Thurst thoughtfully appraises the master of the house. Normally unafraid of the wizard's sharp tongue and harsh temper, Thurst nevertheless decides that now is not the right time to provoke the man with his idea of "witty banter". Turning his attention back to his newfound compatriots, Thurst suppresses a sigh.
"Ah, Argus, I have an addition to the procedures and precautions that should be followed when I am away," begins the dwarf, "Please keep Weldin out of the boiler room. He seems to think music will 'calm the savage beast', but it just means more work for me when I return."
Upon reaching an understanding with the butler, Thurst's attention returns to the matter at hand. It shouldn't take him very long to prepare, as his area of expertise is quite small. Turning to leave, Thurst lets one last comment hang in the air, "I hope you lot have gears under those squishy bodies of yours."
Last edited by Wool; 24th March 2007 at 07:46 AM..
Aeshen allows the distate for this assignment to show on his face for just a second before carefully concealling it.
"I would be happy to help get to the bottom this mystery of many-armed rodents for you, Master", he says with a slight bow toward the fuming Kunstler's back.
Aeshen makes his way back to his quarters casually, needing only a few moments to gather his few travelling items: Some rope, a sturdy pack, a waterskin, and a bedroll. Securing these items he changes from his velvet and silk garments into more servicable leather ones. He leaves his ever-present jewelry in its place however, not willing to completely demean himself for this task. 'This better be worth it' is his only thought as he makes his way back to Argus, and his droll task.
Upon reaching the butler he leans in. "Sir, I heard your offer of a loan? I find myself lacking of some tools I might require for this task.... Specialized tools?"
Last edited by Aeshen; 24th March 2007 at 05:55 PM..
Argus raises an eyebrow that indicates he knows exactly what the dapper elf is asking for. He gives a sigh that ripples through his impressive frame, and he points down the hallway to a locked trophy cabinet. As Aeshen watches, the butler pulls the key up from inside his clothing, where it was hidden dangling on a chain around his neck.
He opens the cabinet -- and moves Aeshen's hand back when the elf attempts to reach inside on his own -- and then grabs a rolled leather tool bag. Closing and relocking the cabinet and stashing the key once more, Argus then unrolls the tool bag on a table in the foyer and Aeshen's eyes light up when he sees a masterwork set of thieves tools.
"I will assume you meant something like these. The master recovered these during his most famous adventure in the Dungeon. They have sentimental value, so please do take good care of them."
Aeshen looks down at the offered tools with something akin to boyhood joy. He quickly composes himself.
"Thank you Sir. I shall show them the respect they clearly deserve" he says. He picks up the tools with reverence and stows them carefully into the pack slung over his shoulder.
Mairan walks away, pleased that this particular task provides many benefits not the least of which is being able to use her training finally.
Back in her room, she gathers her gear, packing it up with the hopes that upon returning to this place she will have found great treasure to secure her freedom from her father's legacy. She readies her armor and weapons, checking them over for damage.
Upon returning to the library she turns to Argus and asks "Have there been any attacks by this ratling that have been reported?"
Sighing inwardly she imagines the enormity of debt her father's debauchery could have amassed and how another loan will only dig her further into that hole. Resigned but believing that excessive pride will be useless in death she continues, "Argus, I would be grateful for whatever Master Kunstler sees fit to loan me."
Argus ponders her for a moment, then leads her to the cabinet. He unlocks it, then grips her forearm, squeezing Mairan's muscular arm. He nods and releases her, placing a masterwork longsword in her hands.
"This is very old. The master recovered it from a sealed room within the Buried City. Who once held it and what became of them he does not know -- the armor and weapons lay on the floor as though the bearer had simply vanished out of them. The sword has been restored and should serve you well until your return."
Eager to be away from Master Kunstler, whose foul temper frightens her just a bit, Valana hastily returns to her shared room. Taking time to change from her apprentice robes into something more appropriate, she chooses sturdy adventuring clothes with high leather boots and a sturdy cloak from the closet. After double checking her spell component pouch and spell book, she fits a few more items into her backpack and returns to the library.
"Ratmen? Ugh." Ella thought as she reviewed the paper. She frequently chased ratlings out of her father's kitchens in the morning, stupid and skittish creatures they were.
Ella's thoughts drifted from the matters at hand to her surroundings. Few things kept her attention like books, and she marvelled at the collection Master Kunster had amassed. Rarely was she able to view his collection. Intently, her eyes strayed onto the shelves, straining to read the spines as the clamoring from the harpsichord faded out...
*CLAP CLAP*
Cicero's signal brought her back to the present.
"Very well, Master".
Ella managed a slight curtsie and a sly grin as she headed to her room to pack up her things and prepare her spells. Slipping on her favorite robe (a purple bordered black chenille weave) she begins to prepare her spells for the coming adventure.
....
Upon returning to the Library, Ella stands with her comrades sizing them up for the coming events.
"Cicero, might there be anything of use for me?"
ooc
I would like to roll a Knowledge (local) check for any common knowledge regarding the local ratling population's nesting grounds or scavenging patterns as well as any rumors or info regarding the banker's guild, or any catacombs attached.
What Ella knows about the rats and the Bankers' Guild
Pretty much everyone who lives in Ptolus knows that the sewers are full of ratlings and their bigger cousins -- except maybe Vock Row's sewers, where all sorts of things have been flushed down the drain from the various labs. It's assumed by most people that the ratlings lair in the sewers, and they come up from there looking for things to steal.
The Bankers' Guild is affiliated with House Abanar, one of the Palastani noble houses now based in Ptolus. They oversee banking, money-lending, investments and the like. The actual guildhouse is not a bank, though.
Argus looks at Ella skeptically.
"If you can promise to not wave it about before leaving the house, I believe there is an excellent, if non-magical, quarterstaff that the master took off a black-skinned orc wizard some time ago."
ooc
Ella can have the use of a masterwork quarterstaff for this adventure.
Thurst walks purposefully back to his work area, never noticing the varied assortment of strange looks he gets from the staff members passed on the way there. He doesn't bother changing, for a follower of Teun there is no holier vestment than the clothing you wear while working on machines. Let the spoiled wear their pretty dresses, but not Thurst, oh no.
Packing proves to be a simple matter, with most of his energy going towards packing various tools and components used in his craft. While unsure if his skillset would be of any real use, he nevertheless intends to be prepared. With a sigh, Thurst acknowledges that his companions may need repairing as well.
Upon donning his armor, Thurst draws his heavy mace and examines it carefully. Mechanical by design, it was as much a tool as it was a weapon. While not as powerful as it had once been, the inventive dwarf was still confident he could eventually return it to its former glory.
"Now you behave while I am gone," exclaims the dwarf as he shakes the mace meaningfully at the boiler.
Returning the mace to his side, Thurst remembers one more detail mentioned earlier. Thurst had no need to borrow additional equipment, for he already owed Kunstler one such debt. He opened a nearby chest and gingerly lifted a magnificent Dragon Pistol out of it. It had belonged to his father, having gone missing beneath Ptolus decades before.
It was purely by the strangest of coincidences that Thurst came to work for the very man that found it. Kunstler never would reveal exactly where he found the blasted thing, perhaps annoyed at the lack of an emotional response in the patient dwarf. What Kunstler didn't anticipate was that the knowledge that Thurst was on the right track was worth more than the heirloom itself, and that knowledge was freely given.
Shaking his head thoughtfully, Thurst holsters the marvelous device and fastens the ammo pouch and powder horn to his belt. Taking one last look at his work area, he heads back to the library.
Mata contemplates what to ask Argus for on the way back to her room to acquire her gear. She had never been good with a melee weapon, but had some skill with a crossbow. A good quality one would provide her with some defense other than her spells. She could hear her grandmother's voice in her head. "Never depend on magic Mata. It is a tool, among other tools, it is not a guarantee of victory."
She makes her way back to Argus to make her request, discretely checking out her companions. Her roommates she knows of course, and it was hard to miss the dwarf who cared for the machines of the house, especially when the sounds of his ongoing struggle with the boiler punctuated the nights. The elf and the human however were largely unknown to her, and she wonders why Kunstler had chosen them for this task.
Last edited by Voca; 25th March 2007 at 10:05 PM..
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