Ptolus: 165 Vock Row - "Rat-catchers"

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The bats, at first, seem intent on ignoring the leaping and shouting Aeshen, but gradually, he sees more and more of them staring down at him. They begin to flap their wings, jostling their neighbors and their peeps turn into loud screeching and soon, he can hear nothing but the bats, screeching at him in irritation.

 

[Aeshen]

Aeshen stops his futile actions - before they kill him. It's clear that the bats are not going to spook and fly off - and even if they did, they'd likely just come back a few hours later.

Aeshen moves as silently as he can, backing towards the stairway he entered. He does his best to count the bats - to be report back to his 'commanding officer' on the ground. Assuming he makes it back down without incident he tells the guard waiting for him, "The entire structure of the tower has been comprimised by the guano, the floor itself is weakened in many places. At the top of the tower is where they are roosting," Aeshen tells him how many bats he counted, as well as their size, before continuing, "They are not easily spooked and I don't think it's the safest place for your men to be fighting them either. I'm at a loss for what to do here - my best advice would be to put something in the tower that would repel them though I'm no druid, so don't ask me what that might be."

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

"Thank you, bard," the lieutenant says dryly. "That was very helpful. Nachtmann! Polizist! Get up there!"

* * *

The gnome finally finishes his work and sprinkles some fine powder onto the ink, blotting and drying it. He holds his map out to examine his work, taking several seconds to find the proper distance from his face.

"There," he says, whistling through his nose. "This should do you well. You can buy a special watertight scroll case at the front desk."

He hands the map to Ella.

* * *

Down in the basement of the Bankers Guild, Guildmaster Thogol returns to where the group from Vock Row is finishing their questioning.

"So far, the other vaults seem undisturbed, praise Ynchabalos," he says, although his expression changes as he says it. "But perhaps they're already working on the far side of another vault, even as we speak! Your master must investigate, please!"

 

[Aeshen]

Frustrated by the massive amount of time he has wasted accomplishing nothing Aeshen heads back to Master Kunstler's house. He has never in his life met so many people impervious to his friendly demeanor and charm and he was beginning to doubt the wisdom of being involved with this task at all.

 

[Vdou]

"Purchase? 5 gold and I don't get a case with it?" Ella frowns.

 

[Voca]

Mata quickly reassures the guild master that the party will be taking their investigation into the sewers as soon as their companions finish their inquiries.

 

[Fyrie Windlitened]

Looking to Thurst and Mata, Mairan sighs "We seem to be finished here, let's go find the others and get to exterminating the rat."

Mairan waits for Thurst and Mata to finish up and then moves to leave the guildhouse.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The gnome mumbles to himself in response to Ella's question.

"Well, you get an ordinary, rather flimsy ribbon to slip around the scroll, miss," he fishes a somewhat ratty blue ribbon out of a pocket of his work apron. "But if you're taking this into the sewers, it might be worth the expense."

He shuffles to the front, where Valana is waiting impatiently.

"If not, I hope we can help you next time."

* * *

Seeing the investigation is at an end -- for now -- Guildmaster Nogol has the guards escort Thurst, Mata and Mairan back out onto Palace Road. The guards settle themselves into position, on either side of the heavy door, and glare at the Vock Row contingent.

"You go disappear now and turn them rats into frogs, OK?" one winks, and his partner laughs unpleasantly.

* * *

Dejected and, much to his dismay, with boots caked in sticky guano, Aeshen makes his way across Oldtown, back to Vock Row and to #165. He fits his key into the below-street-level servants' door when a voice above him causes him to look up.

"Mr. Jhil'meon?" Argus Blackmore stands at the main street level entrance, leaning over the railing to look down at the servants' entrance below. A wrapped package bulges under one arm. "What are you doing back here? The master is having these documents sent over to the Bankers Guild in advance of meeting with them tomorrow. The situation with the ratlings needs to be resolved before then."

 

[Vdou]

"Oh fine." Ella says, exasperated. "How much is the total?"

 

[Voca]

Mata turns to Thurst and Marian. "We seem to have exhausted our options here. Perhaps we should head back to Vock Row and see how the library crew did?"