Ptolus: 165 Vock Row - "Rat-catchers"

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

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]

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.

 

[Fyrie Windlitened]

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."

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

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."

 

[Filthy]

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.

 

[Vdou]

"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?"

[sblock=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.
[/sblock]

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

[sblock=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.[/sblock]

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."

[sblock=ooc]Ella can have the use of a masterwork quarterstaff for this adventure.[/sblock]

 

[Wool]

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.

 

[Vdou]

"Of course, sir. I shall be cautious." The words sounded right, yet Argus could tell she was nervous about whether or not she could keep her word.

 

[Voca]

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.