Ptolus: 165 Vock Row - "Rat-catchers"
- Thread starter Whizbang Dustyboots
- Start date
Fyrie Windlitened
First Post
Mairan addresses the Guildmaster explaining, "We are representatives of the group dispached by Master Kunstler, we're going to take to the sewers tomorrow to find the beast. Right now, we are looking to find any information about the ratling and will set off tomorrow morning."
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Nogol looks at Mairan and then at Thurst and then at Mairan again.Fyrie Windlitened said:
"Tomorrow? Your master indicated that these intrusions would stop immediately. If ratlings can get into the guildhouse, who knows what else can? I'm don't want to wake up and find an assassin's dagger at my throat! The guildhouse's sanctity has been violated by this, this creature. We are ill-equipped to deal with such an intrusion, but Mister Kunstler suggested, in return for some considerations in the financing of the country manor, he could have it resolved immediately. I think I need to send a messenger to Kunstlerhaus and have him clear this matter up. I will not be taken advantage of by any man, wizard or otherwise!"
Fyrie Windlitened
First Post
"We understand your problems with it but we've been able to find out nothing about the area or the creature. I'm also certain that sending us in blind will mark your agreement to also adding onto the fees the cost of replacing Master Kunstler's staff and apprentices as well as compensation for the the time and effort needed to retrain them to a sufficient level given that asking us to go completely unawares would be close to hmmm.. shall we call it murder?"
Mairan's demeanor doesn't seem purturbed at all, simply that she's stating facts to the esteemed guildmaster.
She turns to Mata and Thurst saying, "Well would one of you care to go find Aeshen or would you rather go back to the library to gather the others, either way splitting up to fetch them and returning here right away will get this started as soon as possible. As the gentleman has said, the Master has made a deal and we're bound to uphold it given the good guildmaster's lack of information and desire to feed the beast, I think it's best we set off post haste. I'm sure after the ratling feasts upon our bones and develops a taste for those of us who live above ground, he'll come searching out his next meal and there won't be the pesky problem of sending people down to meet him then."
Mairan smiles and bows quickly to the Guildmaster then turns to leave the Guildhall.
Mairan's demeanor doesn't seem purturbed at all, simply that she's stating facts to the esteemed guildmaster.
She turns to Mata and Thurst saying, "Well would one of you care to go find Aeshen or would you rather go back to the library to gather the others, either way splitting up to fetch them and returning here right away will get this started as soon as possible. As the gentleman has said, the Master has made a deal and we're bound to uphold it given the good guildmaster's lack of information and desire to feed the beast, I think it's best we set off post haste. I'm sure after the ratling feasts upon our bones and develops a taste for those of us who live above ground, he'll come searching out his next meal and there won't be the pesky problem of sending people down to meet him then."
Mairan smiles and bows quickly to the Guildmaster then turns to leave the Guildhall.
Not fully comprehending Mairan's bluff, Thurst calls out to her, "Now wait one minute! This dried up fish hasn't said one single thing worth listen' to!"
Thurst makes a show of rolling his eyes at the Guildmaster. "I donnae think you are paying attention. We know what we'r doing, and yer incessant waffling is just going to make this take longer than necessary."
Struck by inspiration, Thurst continues, "I'll tell ya what, I'll simplify it for you. This operation has four stages; the first, which you are doing a brilliant job of interfering with, is to gather pertinent information. I'm sure someone in your position knows how valuable a tool, and a weapon, information can be. The second stage occurs tonight, when we will monitor the guildhouse and any unusual activity. The main thrust of our offensive will occur when we see fit."
"That is, if you want the job done right. Now be a good lad and tell us what we need ta know, so we can do our job and you can get back to counting yer shinies."
Thurst makes a show of rolling his eyes at the Guildmaster. "I donnae think you are paying attention. We know what we'r doing, and yer incessant waffling is just going to make this take longer than necessary."
Struck by inspiration, Thurst continues, "I'll tell ya what, I'll simplify it for you. This operation has four stages; the first, which you are doing a brilliant job of interfering with, is to gather pertinent information. I'm sure someone in your position knows how valuable a tool, and a weapon, information can be. The second stage occurs tonight, when we will monitor the guildhouse and any unusual activity. The main thrust of our offensive will occur when we see fit."
"That is, if you want the job done right. Now be a good lad and tell us what we need ta know, so we can do our job and you can get back to counting yer shinies."
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Nogol sputters with frustration as he listens to Mairan, then turns to the dwarf, astonished to find him more reasonable than her.
"Wait, what is the fourth stage? And I will be happy to show you ladies and gentleman to the site wherein the creature burst in on us, so that you may learn whatever you can. We have barricaded the hole as best we can while we find trustworthy laborers to repair the breach. Follow me."
He turns and heads off down a dark hallway between paintings of former bankers, arrowing toward a dark stone staircase twisting down into the bowels of the earth.
"Wait, what is the fourth stage? And I will be happy to show you ladies and gentleman to the site wherein the creature burst in on us, so that you may learn whatever you can. We have barricaded the hole as best we can while we find trustworthy laborers to repair the breach. Follow me."
He turns and heads off down a dark hallway between paintings of former bankers, arrowing toward a dark stone staircase twisting down into the bowels of the earth.
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Back in the library, Valana rubs her eyes and then double-checks the index again. She and Ella have already scanned through countless journals and maps left by Delvers, and found discussion of kobolds and goblins and various criminal gangs, minor undead, strange traps left over from the time of Ghul, but nothing new on ratlings.
Ella is currently working on a cipher -- a Delver named Grimslade has donated a journal to the library, but it's all in code. Valana is skeptical of its usefulness, but Ella is undeterred.
Returning to the index, Valana spots a name. The quickling faen Gormadoc is listed next to "sewers" in the margins of the index. Sure she's seen the halfling's journal around here somewhere, Valana puts the index down and goes back to searching the stacks.
* * *
Meanwhile, in Randle's, Aeshen finds himself in the middle of a growing circle of clear space as he prepares to toss another knife at the target -- all part of his plan to ingratiate himself with the Dalenguard bureaucrats and soldiers drinking here. He sniffs the air experimentally, and instantly discovers the reason for the space around him.
He turns and finds himself facing a creature he's not initially sure is human: His skin, matted hair and caked clothes are all the same uniform color, which he might charitably call the color of mud, although no one would believe him. Only the man's green eyes stand out against from the layer of brown. At least the gods are kind enough to have the man be mostly dry.
"Heard you was asking about the sewers," says the man, hoisting a mug and toasting Aeshen. "I's your man, then. Cloacinus Maximus. I's been a System Monitor for, let's see now, when was that bad winter what froze over the docks and trapped all them ships in the harbor. Thirty-seven years, let's call it. What do you want to know, fancy lad?"
He grins, and not unkindly, showing a mouth full of shockingly beautiful white teeth.
Ella is currently working on a cipher -- a Delver named Grimslade has donated a journal to the library, but it's all in code. Valana is skeptical of its usefulness, but Ella is undeterred.
Returning to the index, Valana spots a name. The quickling faen Gormadoc is listed next to "sewers" in the margins of the index. Sure she's seen the halfling's journal around here somewhere, Valana puts the index down and goes back to searching the stacks.
* * *
Meanwhile, in Randle's, Aeshen finds himself in the middle of a growing circle of clear space as he prepares to toss another knife at the target -- all part of his plan to ingratiate himself with the Dalenguard bureaucrats and soldiers drinking here. He sniffs the air experimentally, and instantly discovers the reason for the space around him.
He turns and finds himself facing a creature he's not initially sure is human: His skin, matted hair and caked clothes are all the same uniform color, which he might charitably call the color of mud, although no one would believe him. Only the man's green eyes stand out against from the layer of brown. At least the gods are kind enough to have the man be mostly dry.
"Heard you was asking about the sewers," says the man, hoisting a mug and toasting Aeshen. "I's your man, then. Cloacinus Maximus. I's been a System Monitor for, let's see now, when was that bad winter what froze over the docks and trapped all them ships in the harbor. Thirty-seven years, let's call it. What do you want to know, fancy lad?"
He grins, and not unkindly, showing a mouth full of shockingly beautiful white teeth.
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Mairan, Mata and Thurst follow Guildmaster Nogol down the dark stone staircase. This second level does not have the ostentation of the ground floor. Instead, there are scalloped guard posts along the walls and lanterns in iron cages suspended from the ceiling.
Gray-clad guards wearing guild badges step aside into the alcoves as Nogol leads the group from Kunstlerhaus past.
The group twists and turns several times, moving through areas of strikingly different design that have been incorporated into the guildhouse's labyrinth. Finally, the group draws up short before a door with two more of the ogrish guards standing watch outside. The door has clearly been replaced recently: Its wood is still bright and the bronze bands gleam in the lantern light.
Nogol pulls a key ring out of his tunic, where it rested on a long iron chain. He unlocks a series of three locks on the doors and steps aside, gesturing for the group to move in to what looks like a storeroom of some sort. On the far side, a barricade of wood weighted down by sandbags has been fitted against the wall, but the trio's noses can tell what lies beyond: There's a hole to the sewers there behind that barricade.
Gray-clad guards wearing guild badges step aside into the alcoves as Nogol leads the group from Kunstlerhaus past.
The group twists and turns several times, moving through areas of strikingly different design that have been incorporated into the guildhouse's labyrinth. Finally, the group draws up short before a door with two more of the ogrish guards standing watch outside. The door has clearly been replaced recently: Its wood is still bright and the bronze bands gleam in the lantern light.
Nogol pulls a key ring out of his tunic, where it rested on a long iron chain. He unlocks a series of three locks on the doors and steps aside, gesturing for the group to move in to what looks like a storeroom of some sort. On the far side, a barricade of wood weighted down by sandbags has been fitted against the wall, but the trio's noses can tell what lies beyond: There's a hole to the sewers there behind that barricade.
