Ptolus: 165 Vock Row - "Rat-catchers"

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Livbovic blinks at Valana, thinking.

"Quite a few Delvers' journals discuss the ratlings. I have copies of the journals of the Company of the Black Lantern two rows down," he says, pointing. "They're all bound in black with an embossed lantern on the side. The earliest volumes discuss ratlings."

Turning to Mairan, he beckons her to follow him.

"Most of our records concern Midtown, since so many Delvers enter the Dungeon from Delvers' Square. The bankers are located near Dalenguard, I believe, and many Delvers feel uncomfortable breaking through cellar walls in earshot of the Commissar. But I believe there are references in the journals of the Runewardens and the Order of the Ancient Egg. I have an index I can consult."

They enter a break between bookshelves filled by two old and sturdy work tables. He waves a hand vaguely at a chair for Mairan to sit in while he bustles off in search of his index.

 

[Wool]

Thurst had remained calm and quiet throughout the proceedings. Even when the staff landed on his foot, he kept his reactions to himself. Ella returning while speaking orcish had however sent him over the edge. While the only visible sign of his discomfort was a slight nervous tick, he nevertheless walked off by himself without a word.

Noticing the head librarian on an errand for Mairan, Thurst shoots him a quick look implying that he would like to speak to the librarian alone when he becomes available. In the meantime, Thurst begins searching for any surviving records of the original blueprints and design schematics of the Ptolus sewer system. While it might be a wild goose chase, there is always the chance he will find something that will bring new light to the work the rest of the group is working on.

 

[Vdou]

"Look what I found!" Ella's excitement was apparently not contagious.

"Its a collection of notes that were found on an Orcish spy! All kinds of details about entry and exit points from the sewers and routes through the undertown!"

[sblock=ooc]
Ringo, whats the best way to decide what kind of info I can glean from this text?
[/sblock]

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

[sblock=Vdou]They're knowledge checks. I'll give the results of what everyone's looking up once everyone's had a chance to look for information.[/sblock]
Livbovic slides a pair of books in front of Mairan, one older, thicker and much read, while the other is a slimmer volume, and much less looked over. Not surprisingly, Mairan soon learns, the journal of the legendary Runewardens has seen much more attention by their fellow Delvers than the less-well-known Order of the Ancient Egg.

Thurst then pulls the librarian aside and explains what he's looking for. Nodding, the librarian leads him to another set of tables further back. These books are already out on the table: It's a common request and the books rarely get refiled for long. The dwarf sits down to find the Oldtown and Dalenguard sewer schematics.

 

[Wool]

In an uncharacteristic act of social grace, Thurst thanks Livbovic for the assistance. Taking a quick glance to make sure his companions aren't within hearing range, Thurst delicately poses a question to the librarian, "I was wondering just how extensive a roster the guild keeps on its members and missions. Say I was looking for someone in particular."

[sblock=ooc]I really don't expect to resolve that backstory, and I haven't even thought up a name for his father, let alone what happened to him or whether he was actually a member of the delver's guild, but I figured this would be something Thurst would ask given the opportunity. It isn't even important if he gets any information from the librarian, he just has to have asked it.[/sblock]

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The librarian is startled by the question, turning from the books he was about to refile to the dwarf and his watery eyes search the dwarf's for a moment.

"Today, they keep excellent records at our headquarters in Delvers' Square. In the early days, though, things were less regulated. No one thought they could die," he says quietly. "The follies of youth. I would ask at Delvers' Square."

 

[Wool]

Thurst nods in acquiescence and returns to his work.

 

[Filthy]

In the row indicated by the librarian, Valana walks down the corridor of bookshelves, scanning for the black bound books of the Company of the Black Lantern. Finding them near the end of the row, she quickly skims through them until she finds the earlier journals. Carrying the books she has removed from the shelf, she takes them over to a well lit table and begins looking for answers to her questions about the ratlings.

 

[Aeshen]

Aeshen stands casually as his fellow groupmates scurry around. His father had owned about a dozen books and several scrolls - an amount that had seemed a lot to Aeshen at the time... being in the library was completely overwhelming. He wasn't sure where to start. He does the best thing he can think of under the circumstance, hoping that he can make someone else do the work for him.

Aeshen tries first with the head librarian; however, if that doesnt work Aeshen is more then happy to enlist the aid of anyone currently in the library who looks particularly studious. He explains, "Hello Sir, Might you perhaps spare a moment. I fear I am over my head in such a place and you clearly are not..." If he finds someone willing to help he explains what the group is looking for.

 

[Voca]

Mata waits patiently as the librarian fills the requests of the others before presenting her papers and asking for help locating any adventurer's maps that may cover the area underneath the banker's guild.