[Ptolus/AD&D] IC Thread #4 - Davin's Arrival (Davin)

[Werekoala]

Davin nods. "I see... sounds like maybe lore-master is a dangerous profession. Thanks for the help, young man."

Davin tosses him a copper, then heads for the inns to see about lodging, preferably in the inn that provides the jump-off point for underground expeditions.

[Benoist]

Against his expectations, the kid doesn't let go after Davin threw him a copper. He follows him and shouts : "If you want an adventurer's inn, you ain't gonna find it here, you know ? I could lead you to one for another one of those coins!"

He waits to see if Davin is intrigued.

[Werekoala]

Davin pauses, then turns.

"Really. You certainly seem to know a lot about what "adventurer's" may be looking for. How do I know you're not some cutpurse, leading me into a trap where your fellow brigands can rob me blind?"
He cocks his head to the side slighty, studying the boy and awaiting his reply.

[Benoist]

"Well... I am a cutpurse, that's true, but I wouldn't lead you into a trap!"

He then mumbles: "I like you."

[Werekoala]

Davin laughs.

"An honest cutpurse - my first surprise in Ptolus, and I've barely been here half an hour. Alright, young thief, lead on."

{{keeping an eye on my surroundings, of course - you never know}}

[Benoist]

The kid smiles broadly and reveals some teeth in a pretty bad shape. He starts walking down a street and talks as he keeps on going : "Name's Faefnir. I will be an adventurer one day, you know?"

"Delving is forbidden by the Commissar and the Church within the city walls, see? Ha! The priests of the all-powerful Lothian. They don't look too kindly upon that kind of activity, see? But they have to manage the people flooding to town somehow, so they allow them to camp all around. I know a place, an inn, where they have that big well going down the sewers though. They call it the Ladder... you'll see..."

[Werekoala]

Davin nods absently as he keeps scanning his surroundings.

"Indeed, Faefnir, and pleased to make your acquaintance. I'm sure you will be a fearsome adventurer in your time. Tell me, friend thief, why do you think the priests of Lothian discourage delving below Ptolus? It seems to me that if they are truly all-powerful then Ptolus would be a long-forgotten burg, not a city such as I see around me - after all, those with true power rarely have to work to bury what they do not want found..."

[Benoist]

The kid seems to think for a while before he answers : "I guess they don't like when numbers grow strong enough to challenge their influence on the people, or the Commissar for that matter. Plus, each passing day brings new adventurers with different backgrounds, different traditions, different faiths to the city. It won't be long before the Church is forced to admit it doesn't have a monopoly on religion around these parts anymore..."

"Plus. The folks of Dalenguard seem awfully busy these days. The Commissar's people don't care for anything going on beyond the fortress's walls lately. They let the Brotherhood of the Sword keep the peace and all that. If you ask me, the Commissar's got problems of his own. Like there's something that's focusing all the military might of the Empire. Maybe it's the Spire. Maybe it's below the ground. But there's something not right."

[Werekoala]

"Hmm, yes - politics and religion seem to always mix, don't they? Still, where I come from it isn't as much of an issue as it seems to be here. Good to know that the Church hasn't totally forced out the other faiths. And as to the concentration of forces here in Ptolus...I can't imagine that that singals anything but trouble."

[Benoist]

"I imagine there will be some trouble down the road, yes."

He stops suddenly, turns around to stare at Davin for a moment and asks point blank : "Do you need somebody to help you carry your supplies or your lantern or whatever it is that you'd take with you when you get down there ? I'd serve, you know, if you gave me some food and everything. What do you say ?"

[Werekoala]

Davin considers for a moment.

"Well, I would no doubt need a porter to assit me. You seem rather small for such things, and are certainly young, but you seem to have the right spirit. Have you done such things before?"

[Benoist]

The kid hesitates a fraction of a second before answering : "Not really..."

Then he adds as if the come-back suddenly dawned on him : "But I learn fast ! I'm very able. And I'll shut up if you want me to !"

A little embarassed still, the kid then points out : "Name's Quip, by the way."

[Werekoala]

Davin smiles. "Okay, Quip, I'll take you on as my porter on a provisional basis. If nothing else, I admire your enthusiasm. Lead on!"

[Benoist]

Quip indeed leads on with renewed energy.

You soon arrive at a large building which must have been some kind of round stone tower or temple in ages past. It must have collapsed some time between now and then, but has been recently added to with a large wooden structure that leads to two, much smaller towers built of same lumber. You can see glass widows covering all the openings of the stone structure. The wooden structure takes over the top part of this large round tower and provides it with an arched roof that blends with the rest of the new construction.

Quip turns to look at you and says : "This is the Gold Ladder. They were searching for the adventuring type earlier. We might be late to the party, but better late than never, right ?"

[Werekoala]

Davin nods and adjusts his pack on his back.

"Agreed - I doubt we'll lack for anything to keep us occupied, no matter when we arrive. An interesting building, I would have thought they might have cleared and built a new one, or rebuilt the original - things are clearly done differently here in Ptolus."