Death in Freeport

[Voadam]

"I think the Khemti sacrificial rituals are to different. You mentioned a librarian, Lucius, I think. Is his unavailability temporary? Can I wait for him?" Wilbur continuous the talk.

"No. He is . . I can not say. He is, unfortunately, one of our more unreliable members. He might be off in a ditch somewhere drinking away his sorrows for a week or two and risk ending up dead in a gutter, or he might have taken a boat out of Freeport. He went missing once before and it was years before he sailed back into port begging to be readmitted to the Athenaeum. So I would not suggest waiting for him. I would in fact, suggest putting him out of your mind entirely. I am afraid you are right about Egil as well. He does not appreciate the primal connections of the Uraqi pantheon, he is wedded to the ideals of the lords of light in the Khemti pantheon with its maat principles and so forth and it blinds him to greater truths. The young can be so unprofessional. For instance, he sees funereal offerings from the Khemti perspective, to sustain the dead in the afterlife as their due. The Uraqi ritual offerings of food are to sustain the dead as well, but simply to sate their hungers in the dry dusty lands of the dead so they do not return to feast upon the living. He does not see the rituals as means to tempt the dead with rewards for information or as propitiations to stave off the dead, but as duties in and of themselves." He shakes his head "A puppy dog scholar who needs to be put on a short leash and kept busy lest he disrupt true work." He lets out an aggrieved sigh before returning his attention to Wilbur and Hinjo. "If you have a specific interest I could recommend some titles for you to peruse, Egil will not be a benefit in that regards.."

 

[Graybeard]

Anton watches Dogrynn walk away with the Gnome and the thugs.

Just great, he leaves me in the middle of the slum section of the docks. he mutters to himself.

Anton looks around and decides to head back to the Library and see if any of the rest of the group has returned.

 

[Walking Dad]

... "If you have a specific interest I could recommend some titles for you to peruse, Egil will not be a benefit in that regards.."

"Yes, that would be nice. Some gods need the right sacrifices to be pleased. Could you make the suggested list, and I will return later for it, please."

 

[Shayuri]

"Oh lesshee." Mother Agnes says to Arcata and Julian. "Las' time he bought something was last week, then I only saw him one time after that. He only shtopped to say hallo as he wash on an assignment running an errand. Heading tha' way I think it wus." She gestures off in a southeasterly direction through Drac's End on the way to the more well to do Eastern district.

Arcata fought down increasing frustration as she started to suspect they were chasing shadows here. But this was basically their last lead. After this they were reduced to going door to door with a portrait, just about.

"Is he, by any chance, staying anywhere around here that you know of? In an inn, or renting a room nearby, maybe?"

 

[Voadam]

"Yes, that would be nice. Some gods need the right sacrifices to be pleased. Could you make the suggested list, and I will return later for it, please."

"Certainly, master . . . I'm sorry I didn't catch your name?" He starts to write up a list "And if you come across other Uraqi texts in the marketplace, or if you have any in your own collection, please bring them to my attention here. I am always interested in obtaining or reading such finds and learning from fellow scholars in the field. This should get you started,"

He hands you a quick list of a couple of titles,

The Ascendency of the All-Seeing Sun Shamash
Offerings to the Lady of the Great Below
Invocations of Enki's Knowledge of the Me
Sacrifices to entice Ishtar to Reveal Lore from the Tablets of Destiny
Ritual Offerings for the Bitter Sea Mother

 

[Voadam]

Arcata fought down increasing frustration as she started to suspect they were chasing shadows here. But this was basically their last lead. After this they were reduced to going door to door with a portrait, just about.

"Is he, by any chance, staying anywhere around here that you know of? In an inn, or renting a room nearby, maybe?"

"I know he worksh down in the Temple Dishtrict tha' way." she gestures and then turns the other way "I think he lives shomewhere in Drac's End tha' way." gesturing in the general direction Arcata knows his shack lies.

Arcata can make the connection that her stall is in a fairly direct line between the Athenaeum and Lucius' home in Drac's End. The last time she saw him he was heading Southeast though and not to his home.

 

[Voadam]

Soon Anton is heading back alone towards the familiar walls of Old City in the heart of Freeport. It takes Anton a good amount of time to make his way back to the northern part of the city where the Athenaeum lies in the temple district.

The temple district has traditionally not been a strong market for the Forbeck brandies the way the merchant, old city, and eastern district's have been, and the riot of statues and god touched are a bit much. The Athenaeum however stands majestically as a bastion of calm and culture amidst the relative chaos and exoticism.

When he arrives Anton does not immediately see any of the others, though it is a big multifloored place with many reading rooms where they might be.

 

[Graybeard]

Anton will enter the vast and towering building known as the Athenaeum. Looking about, he will locate an acolyte or other worker.

I'm looking for some companions of mine. One is named Wilbur. They were interested in Khemti rituals. Do you know where I might locate them?

 

[Walking Dad]

Although not really satisfied, Wilbur moves back to meet the others.

 

[Voadam]

After Anton gives a description of Wilbur he is told Master Warrington is in a conference with the assistant loremaster.

Shortly thereafter Wilbur and Hinjo emerge. Hinjo is asking Wilbur whether they should follow up on Thuron's list but seems surprised to see Anton waiting outside the door that accesses Thuron's tower within the Athenaeum. Glancing over his shoulder Hinjo turns back and quietly says to Anton "That's Thuron up above watching us."

Up atop a higher balcony from the tower Anton spies a slight middle aged man with thick horn rimmed glasses. A slight frown upon his face as he contemplates you three.