Siobhan's fantasy epic of eipc fantasy (open, PM me first)

[siobhancan99]

Kasia waved off the coat "Gods clancy if something happened to it" she stuck out her tongue "that thing is worth a whole fucking house in the city." she skipped away so he couldn't force it on her "I'll be walking so I'll be plenty warm, and I'll probably take a carriage back up as I will have a ton of shit in my arms" she leaned in and kissed him, running a hand along his chest. "The low-brow was for not caring how we decorate"

She spun away again, waving over her shoulder as she headed down the lane. Much of the day, Clancy could only see two very very bored guards outside. As the couple sat down to eat and dusk arrived, a carriage arrived at the house. Lights came on and the house seemed if anything more lively. Kasia made notes of a few people coming and going, and by the time Clancy was ready for sleep it seemed a party was in full swing.

Clancy would wake, just before dawn, with Kasia curled up under the blankets next to him in a tight little ball. She stirred when he stirred "they're just now stopping their party" she mumbled, turning to burrow in tighter, her one arm sliding over his back as she rested her head against his chest "I'm fucking exhausted."

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Dr. Harrison Colt's delve

Looking down at the sprawl of Gradzlata below the rise of Demonska Planina, Harrison frowned. The task seemed so simple in his head when he studied the lost kingdom smote by a mountain. With his knowledge of the people and their city, it would be easy to plumb its depths and return with artifacts of the fallen empire where others had failed. Years of reading every account he could find, interpreting data included in correspondence between scholars of the day, all the planning and study he had done would be the thing that separated him from those poor souls that never returned from below the city.

He clung to that hope as he heard a page approaching him through the crowd on the courtyard before the ducal palace. Surely, he was coming to summon Harrison to stand before the Duke. He came all this way because Duke Kazimir had it in mind to make Gradzlata a place of study. If nothing else, it would help codify and structure the delves into the city. It made sense to Harrison; having a central repository of all the knowledge gained over the decades of delves would help make others more successful. To Harrison's mind, the old empire might provide something that would keep the city-state free from the sneaking influence of its neighbors. Capturing the power that was held below would make the Duke's life much easier. Harrison hoped to use that possibility in his forthcoming talk with the Duke.

Striding into the great palace, Harrison followed the page through the wide halls. All around him he saw attendants and persons doing business with the Duke's men. He smiled to himself as he realized he was one of the few people the Duke was seeing personally today. He'd have to remember that feather in his cap for later. Guards on either side of a towering portal snapped to attention before pulling the doors open for the page and Harrison to pass through.

Striding into the hall of Duke, Harrison was immediately intimidated by the size and architecture of it. The guards and other servants around the room spoke to how well the Duke had done for himself in the balancing act of his rule. The page announced his presence, bowing before the duke.

"Harrison Colt, Your Grace."

Harrison stepped forward, bowing at the Duke turned to regard him. "Reporting per your missive, Your Grace." Harrison was dressed in more utilitarian clothing than most in the room. While some had velvet and furs, Harrison wore leathers and thick tear-resistant pants. He wasn't so uncouth as to arrive before the Duke armed, but he wasn't so naive to not have a few daggers hidden on his person if needed.

He seemed to have a keen eye, moving as though he knew where everyone in the room might be. He seemed to shift as needed to ensure no one stood behind him, but kept his stance casual, nonchalant. For someone described as an academic, he seemed more accustomed to action than others that had answered the Duke's call. To that end, he produced the Duke's letter, showing him that, indeed, he was the man with whom the Duke corresponded.

 

[siobhancan99]

Reply to Harrison

As Harrison moved into the throne room, the sun shone behind the east facing stained glass window. Mounted to best effect, in line of sight over the head of the Duke was the crest of the Dukes of Gradzlata. Gules a dragon rampant argent in full, gyronny azure. The Dragon itself was from clear glass, clearer than would be found in nearly any human structure. The clarity of the glass itself was a marvel. The Duke himself was impressive, pushing 50 but still built like a fighting man. Long hair, brown shot with gray fell in perfectly coiffed ringlets to frame a stern visage. The Duke ran a hand along his cropped beard, also shot through with gray.

A man leaned in and muttered to the Duke, who gestured with a hand "Ah. The scholar." The Duke leaned in, regarding the man for a long moment, then gestured. From the shadows emerged a woman, strangely dressed. For one, she wore trousers. Unlike the roomy trouser favored by men of the city, hers were form fitting and disappeared into a riding boot. She also wore a men's shirt, billowy in the fashion of the time and clearly of quality make. Over this, she wore a strange sort of coat, unlike the rest of the court who wore doublets. The coat was all black, and also well made. She was tall, willowy, and Harrison could see the tips of pointed ears emerging from the carefully messy spill of blonde hair.

"This is my vassal, the Baroness Livonia Scipii" The Homines name and the odd dress would mark her as what was colloquially known as a "City Elf". Harrison, being from the area surrounding the elven Homeland knew some complicated terms by which the elves themselves described the schism. Regular elves referred to them as "mad ones" or "the lost" depending. The bulk of them for whatever reason lived here in Gradzlata. The Duke continued "The university is as much her project as it is mine. I trust the two of you will work to build its foundations, so that future generations can be proud of the work we do here today."

The baroness inclined her head, regarding Harrison with a cool look. "You may call me Livonia. No need to stand on ceremony." She gestured "Why don't we head out to the terrace and we can discuss our project" making it sound much more like a command than a question.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

The Duke looked like a man that would be delving the city himself if he were 20 years younger. He was clearly a thoughtful man as he was planning for the future of his city rather than drawing power to himself. Harrison respected the Duke for that and it was part of why he answered his summons. The city could be a glittering jewel and the Duke was going to see to it.

Harrison regarded the woman that strode out of the wings for a moment. She was dressed rather sharply and he was sure she had a personality to match. Hearing she was a Baroness, he was a bit surprised, but pleased as she seemed capable of handling herself. Perhaps he would be getting a traveling companion and not someone waiting around to hear of his success.

Turning to him, she introduced herself. "You may call me Livonia. No need to stand on ceremony. Why don't we head out to the terrace and we can discuss our project?"

He followed the eye line and her gesture to see where they were headed. Bowing slightly, Harrison said, "At you pleasure, B- Livonia." He caught himself, not sure how he was slipping already. As she walked past, he turned and followed her to the terrace off to the side of the throne room. As all places in this area around the palace, it gave a breathtaking view of the city on direction with a view of the valley around it in any other.

Moving to one of the benches in the area, Harrison waited to see if she would sit before doing so himself. He waited for her to speak as well; he knew enough about courtly etiquette to not speak until his "better" has begun the conversation.

 

[siobhancan99]

Livonia strode to the edge of the terrace rather than move to the benches. She beckoned with paired fingers, and waited for Harrison to catch up before gesturing. "Obviously you were brought here to teach, but also to research. The catacombs under the city have long been an obsession of mine" She drew a jewel out of her pocket and an image appeared above it, three dimensional, showing a map of the city matching what he saw with uncanny accuracy. Beneath was a warren of lines, marking tunnels beneath the city. "I've been mapping the underground for centuries. Well. I've been paying others to do it. Surveying is ungodly tedious work. I trained to do it, and then found it excruciating."

She gestured at the city. Below at the foot of the mountain the river snaked around and entered under the wall to perfectly bisect the town into eastern and western halves, flowing down to the sea "with the sea there, and the river what would you normally expect to find under the city?" she didn't pause for him to answer "water. you would expect the water table to be high. The catacombs should not exist. They should be flooded. Also, they should be stable and they are not. They shift subtly over time. There is a force.... something changes them and maintains them." She turns "that is a secret, and it is one I share with you because you will need to know it. My theory is not for public consumption"

She points to a large wooded area down below that seems to be a park of some sort "that is where the focus of our next exploration will be. I have another crew that will be tying up some loose ends ... hopefully.... " She turned her attention back to the archaeologist. "some time ago... before Gradzlata was Gradzlata there was a cave there. A man came. A Homines of considerable power. Guardians of the ruined city trapped him and his party beneath the city in that park and sealed those catacombs off from the rest. Recently, a passage opened to there. All that have gone in have not returned. You will be outfitted with whatever supplies you need, but it is imperative we know what is there. Also be quiet about it. That's the Elven Embassy above where you'll be working"

 

[such_a_bad_man]

So many times Harrison wanted to interject when Livonia started speaking. So many times he wanted to weigh in with his opinions. Instead, he waited for her to finish what felt like prepared points before he weighed in himself. "First off, if you could provide your maps, it would help me see if there's a pattern to the remaking of the ruins. If getting lost down there is a real danger, I'd like to safeguard against it if I can."

"Secondly, if I am to slip into the caves in the park, will I be able to hire a team to go with me? From everything I've read, it helps to have extra hands to get in and out of the ruins. Sometimes you need them to deal with traps, sometimes you might need them to deal with another ruin delving team that wants what you've found. Are there trustworthy companions you might recommend for this delve or is this meant for one person only?"

Looking down, he spied the building near the park that must be the Embassy she mentioned. "Is there any worry that the elves have sent their own expedition down this cave? Could they already be ahead of us?" He asked, unsure if she had any intelligence about their movements.

 

[siobhancan99]

Livonia smiled "good questions all. You seem to be a prudent man. In no particular order... no the elves will not be below. The entrance is in the catacombs themselves. What I worry about is they may have diviners who will be alerted to your efforts if you are too loud about them. You are expected to recruit allies. Parties plural have disappeared into those caves over the 2 weeks since they were opened. A number of independent adventurers and one group commissioned by me. A single man seems to stand no chance. You shall have whatever funds you need. This is a project of paramount importance. I can make introductions if you have no contacts in the city. I would suggest a representative of one of the churches. The catacombs are rife with the undead."

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Harrison nodded. He was glad to hear that he and Livonia were on the same page regarding many aspects of this mission. It was going to run much smoother as a result. "Very good, Livonia. I'm unfamiliar with the houses of worship in the city. Is there a faith that ascribes worship to study or knowledge? They might be more sympathetic to our cause. I imagine they might even be willing to partner with the University when it is opened."

"As for other sellswords, a few introductions would allow things to move quicker. I'd like to meet them ahead of time if I can so I can get an idea of how we might work together and blend out skills to be more successful. Do you require time to arrange that or shall we head into the city posthaste? " Harrison asked, figuring that Livonia was not the sort of woman to dither or waste time.

 

[siobhancan99]

Livonia shrugs "the churches are the same the whole world round. There's only so many gods" She smirks "and the faiths are all jealous of their portfolios and secrets. Still, the Twins have a sect in the underground dedicated to returning the dead to their rest. Similarly, the Goddess Vradžbine the goddess of sorcery and magic might be interested in working more closely with us. Part of the intent is to provide low level magical training to anyone with an aptitude... so long as they serve in the army."

She shifts a bit and looks out over the city "So as for putting you in touch with others, there are brokers who do such or I can arrange for a few suitable candidates to come to your lodgings. We've arranged for a house in the eastern rise for you. It's small but well appointed. Do you prefer to go meet a broker on your own or for me to handle it?"

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Harrison listened, filing away the suggested churches to visit. The faith of Vradžbine sees this as a means of advancing their agenda, and they are looking to have bright people join the army. Harrison hated the weaponization of study; he very nearly was roped into the war effort a few times. He'd most likely head for the Temple of the Twins on his way to his newly furnished home. He appreciated someone joining in with a fervor for the delve. It made for someone with more dedication to the cause.

He weighed the options she offered, screwing up his face in thought. "I trust your judgement; I assume it's why I'm here for this delve." He reasoned with a grin to Livonia. "Therefor, have those you would pick come around the house for dinner tonight. I'll meet them then and see if they fit as you hope they will. In the mean time, I'll head for the temples and see if we can't find someone to join our cause this afternoon. I assume time is of the essence and heading for the caves tomorrow would be preferable?" Harrison asked, wondering how tight their timetable might be.

 

[siobhancan99]

Livonia shrugs "I leave the timing to you. I don't want to rush the delve if it means losing my team. You can discuss it with your compatriots. There's two I have in mind if you'll be obtaining a priest on your own." She nodded her head "I will leave you to it then." She turned, and brusque or rude depending on your perspective, simply walked off.

A porter arrived a moment later to escort Harrison. "IT was mentioned you might want to visit the church of the Twins." he hands Harrison a writ "this will allow you entrance to the catacombs without paying the tariff as you are on official business." he also helpfully gave the man directions "The way to the temple is lit, beyond it often is not. If you're going to do a lot of delving you'll need light"

Of course Harrison, as an experienced delver, had quite a few items at his disposal.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Harrison didn't mind her terse exit from their conversation. Livonia was undoubtedly very busy as a Baroness. There were other things to handle as part of setting up the University. He turned and started to leave the terrace once she was gone, only to be stopped. The porter that arrived before him seemed to be ready for him.

Accepting the writ from him, Harrison nodded, glad to have some paperwork to expedite things. The less he had to deal with red tape, the faster he could get to work. He smiled at the porter's worry as he pulled the satchel around from his back. It had swung back there, but it seemed light as a feather in his hands.

"Not to worry, my good fellow, I have all I need for the delve in my pack here. I might need to find an outfitter for our travel rations, but beyond that, I feel ready to go. Pass on my thanks to Baroness Livonia for her hospitality and my eagerness to begin our work." He told the porter before they turned to leave the palace together.

Weaving through the streets and chatting with the locals, Harrison was able to find his way to the temple of The Twins. Passing their statue in the plaza out front, he strode into the hall of the undead destroyers, confident he would find the companion that would keep them safe down there. Walking over to an acolyte, he introduced himself.

"Good afternoon, My name is Harrison Colt and I have arrived to entreat your Heirophant or High Priest for admittance to the catacombs. I bear a write from the Duke and the hope that one of your order my join this endeavor. I will wait while you pass word to the proper officiant." He said, knowing the young man couldn't speak for the church on this matter. He had to wait for someone higher up the clergy to assist him.

 

[siobhancan99]

The twins temples upside were in fact small mortuaries, and the acolyte led Harrison back to where the Porter left him, then down into the catacombs to the temple proper. There the statute of the twins stood as it had in the time of the Homines, who had worshipped death as one goddess with two aspects. One half of the statue was a robed woman in a gesture of welcome, the other half a battle ready mailed warrior holding a blade aloft. The temple itself was of black marble, shot through with veins of white.

Inside the gloom was almost oppressive. The temple had a few sets of delvers in it, praying that they would not meet the goddesses this day. At the altar was a mailed woman in the vestments of a battle priestess of the twins, and in the front row, listening to service were two men dressed in the somber gray of Paladins of death. Harrison waited a bit, and then was beckoned by the priestess "Welcome traveller. I am Jadzia. What brings you to the Temple Below?"

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Harrison took in the environs of the temple with great interest. The location seemed to be selected based on the materials of the walls, an architecture of subtraction as the dwarves would call it. He was not surprised by the presence of other teams looking to descend in the temple around him. It made sense for the Twins to watch over them given the undead that lurked below. Seeing the formidable woman waiting for him, Harrison bowed.

"Thank you for your time, Your Grace. I come bearing a write from the Duke, permitting access for a delve of educational purposes. I am working with Baroness Livonia and aim to learn about what lurks below. My delve cannot accomplish our goal if we are harassed by the risen dead on every side at every turn. I would request a member of your faithful join us on this delve to safeguard our attempt to unravel the mysteries of the ancient city. Our goal is to return with objects for study, for a University our good Duke seeks to raise in the coming months and years. If our goals align in this task, I welcome a member of the faith to my company and hope our delve may honor the paired goddesses in some way." Harrison said, hoping his pitch was worded to land correctly on the priestess' ears. He would have to wait and see if he was as persuasive as he hoped.

 

[siobhancan99]

Reply to Harrison

Jadzia nods, considering "Well, as this is for the Duke we of course will accept the summons. I am too busy here, and my three clerics are in the catacombs dealing with what may be a Lich. We can either provide you with a Paladin if your need is instant, or if you can wait a week or two I can send to a nearby Temple in Miasto Równin for one of my brothers or sisters."

She moves, gesturing for Harrison to sit "do you know what your need is? Do you have any notion of what you face or are you going in blind? Perhaps I can divine some of the nature of your problem through augury. Normally we do not offer such services, as the time of your death is the goddess' to write but as this is a crown affair, we can make exception."

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Harrison weighed the options. While a paladin of the order would be formidable in the city below, one of the clergy would be more flexible. Since they weren't sure what they would be facing, Harrison viewed adaptability very highly as they may need to change plans on the fly, especially if the tunnels themselves aren't as stationary as he had heard. "I think giving myself a week to prepare would be advantageous. If you could reach out to have one of the brothers or sisters of your order join us, I would appreciate that. I think our success grows with their help. When they arrive, I have been granted one of the homes on the Eastern Rise as a base of operations for this delve. When they arrive, they can find me there or you can send word and I can come meet them here if that is their preference."

The boon of augury wasn't one he expected, but it was a tantalizing option. He bit his lip, considering what in particular he might want to know. "Would it be possible to divine what object of the past age we might find on this delve? It would be nice to know it when I see it later."

 

[siobhancan99]

reply to Harrison

Jadzia raises an eyebrow "no care for the dangers you and your companions face?" She shrugs "I suppose in a way it is better you accept the time the twins have chosen for you then" She smirks, though its subtle and can be barely seen through the gloom of the temple. "Very well"

She heads to the altar and begins to pray, intoning in her native Ludowy for the intercession of the goddess. She takes a bowl, filled with water, and adds a drop of her blood then stares into it "There is a staff, ringed with fire. Be warned for it sits not quietly, but is in the hand of one who can wield it." She stands "I will send for one of my brothers or sisters to come assist you. It may be two weeks, depending on the weather. They will be coming by sea from a nearby port in the east."

She pauses, then adds "through the mirror I feel an evil. It is old, though not as old as these catacombs. I suspect it is the remnant of someone who came here to claim their power and failed."

 

[siobhancan99]

Reply to Clancy

"I took some notes" she hands over a sheaf of paper, and the words look like nonsense. Lots of "rampant" and weird names for colors, along with the names of animals and monsters. It would take a few minutes before Clancy would realize these were heraldric notes. "Kemal might know them, but we can also impress him a little if we head into town and talk to an expert on heraldry. There are a few. We can get a notion of who is going in there, and maybe what affiliations they have"

She was at first confused by the spell, then delighted "wow, Clancy. that's a great way to use that. Especially since it means i get to as well. So we can like, what send this thing to look around? how close do we have to be?'

 

[such_a_bad_man]

"no care for the dangers you and your companions face? I suppose in a way it is better you accept the time the twins have chosen for you then. Very well"

Harrison smiles. "I've found that my instincts in the moment lead to actions that are usually the correct ones. Walking into the catacombs knowing it will mostly be undead that face us should be enough to plan."

He sits, watching the divining ritual with a scholarly interest. While unable to weave magic himself, he is curious about the objects and actions of those that can. He readies his journal to record what Jadzia tells him, hoping he can make sense of it. Perhaps it might be an object of power that he came across in his study.

"There is a staff, ringed with fire. Be warned for it sits not quietly, but is in the hand of one who can wield it."

Staff of fire... Staff ringed in fire... Harrison rolled these ideas around in his head, trying to recall all the documents and tomes he studied during his career in tracking down these forgotten people. He would have to consult his notes when he got to the provided house later on.

"So all the failed delves have compounded the treachery and danger of what lies below it would seem. I'll have to take great care not to add to their numbers," Harrison says, clapping his journal shut. "Thank you for your time and your help, Your Grace." He says with a polite and crisp bow. "I will await your compatriots at my domicile. If I come across something in my research before we set out, I may return to ask about some of those dangers you saw." He says with a smile.

"Good day to you, madam." He says before turning on his heel and making his way back out of the temple. Climbing back into the light, Harrison was reminded of how dark the temple below was kept. Heading for the Eastern Rise, Harrison hoped it would be easy to tell which house was his to use; they hadn't been that specific when he was told about it.

 

[siobhancan99]

Reply to Harrison

Harrison wandered the eastern rise a good while, as indeed it had been an oversight in not giving him an address. Eventually he found some bored men in the livery of the duke, along with his bags outside a townhouse. There was a mix of nice houses and upscale commercial properties in the immediate neighborhood, and the house overlooked the basin, though the view was best from across the street. Harrison was given a key and the men carried his belongings into the house.

A few hours later, came a knock. At the door was a dwarf and a Keshvian woman. "We were sent by Livonia Scipii. She said ye've use for experienced delvers" the dwarf rumbled "I'm Grimgur Brightaxe, and this is Miray." The Keshvian woman gave a nod, not yet speaking. The dwarf leaned against the side of the building "so have ye time to speak now or should we come back in the morning then?"

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Harrison, Archaeologist

Harrison apologized to the bored looking men. "It's not your fault that those above you dropped the ball. I appreciate you waiting here to safeguard my equipment and belongings as much as you have." Letting the men inside, he turned and tipped them both a platinum piece, telling them "For your lost day, gentlemen." With his belongings inside, he set about unpacking and filling the house. If this delve went well, he may be here long term to help start the University. May as well settle in for a long term of residence.

Part way through the day, he heard a knock at the door. Answering it, he saw two people there, who introduced themselves as Grimgur and Miray. Opening his door and stepping back, he welcomed the two guests sent by the Baroness. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me today. While my original plan was to hit the catacombs within the next few days, that plan has hit a snag. Our divine companion is going to be delayed up to two weeks, I'm afraid. While this dashes my schedule to bits, it is still an opportunity to increase our chances of success."

Harrison said, leading them over to the table. Pulling out a map scroll that didn't look like it should fit in his satchel, he produced a map from it, laying it out on the table. It appeared to be hand drawn, but done so in sections. Some parts are a bit cruder than others as well. Straightening up, he looked at the other two around his table.

"Now, before we begin, have either of you been on a delve before? Also, what would you say are your strengths on such an endeavor?" He asks them both.

 

[siobhancan99]

"you mean aside from bein tie right size for the catacombs?" The dwarf laughed, slapping the table. "All kidding aside, I see perfectly in the dark and i'm handy with all manner of weaponry. I've been fighting in caverns for all my adult life, either against other clans or against orcs and goblins. I've been delving in the city for five years now and I've adapted to fight the undead."

The Keshvian woman looks around "just settling in eh?" not finding a teapot or any food she settles. Like most of her kind she's olive skinned with long dark brown hair, so dark it looks black in the right light. She gestures, flame dancing across her fingers "I too am experienced. My powers are unsubtle as the dwarf's. I am an elementalist. "

She leaned back in her chair, regarding Harrison "I think it might be nice if you let US know what it is, besides a ducal purse, that YOU bring to the table."

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Harrison chuckled; he could tell he was going to like Grimgur a great deal. Their ideas of humor were very much aligned. He nodded, glad to hear that he had a man-at-arms to carve the path for him. "Well, if you've been fighting that long and are still here to tell me about it, that speaks to your quality. Glad to have you."

As flames dance across Miray's fingers, Harrison was entranced. Magic always did that to him. It was like some great temptation that was just out of reach. He felt that way ever since he tried to study magic in his youth; something about it just escaped him no matter how hard he studied. "I'm sure your gifts will be paramount in clearing out rooms and paths of escape if the undead hordes below become too much of a bother." He said in appreciation of her talents.

When she turned the question around on him, he beamed with pride. "Well, I'm not sure if you have put it together, but the map you see before you has been compiled from my research. I've spent years in study and exploration of the old empire's out lying outposts and colonies. I've taught myself their forgotten language, as well as a few others, to gather information about the capital of their empire. After years of evading their defenses and learning their architecture, I felt that it was time for me to come here and try to see if I could plumb the depths using what I had learned. Unfortunately, the Baroness informs me that the city is shifting, as if the stones themselves are protecting what treasures and knowledge lies heaped below. I aim to thwart that protection and bring out something that will help us understand our predecessors better."

"Now, as to what you can expect from me, I've learned the ways of the security systems and done enough ruin exploring that I can scramble about the broken places of the world without a step ladder or stairs. I'm light on my feet and know my way around a knife or other more dexterous weapons. Someone with the skills I've acquired could make a living pilfering from the living; I'd prefer not to as running from the law makes it hard to study," Harrison finished, hoping he'd allayed their worries for the time being.

 

[siobhancan99]

"Homines is hardly a dead language" the woman smirks "but knowing their crafts... The Homines were better engineers than any of us"

Grimgur snorts "better engineers than you humans are now, aye, but never the rival of dwarves. Show me a Homines city that sits under a dome that keeps an entire mountain from falling on it." He shakes his head and the woman smiles affectionately, as if this were an old argument. "Still, knowledge is power." She nods to Harrision "so most of what's worth exploring, unless you're keen on selling the equipment of lesser adventurers who died before us, is in the deepest catacombs. There's a Lich, they say, blocking the deepest western reaches. Is that our target? or something else?" She looks over the map, trying to get an indication of what Harrison has in mind though the maze of criscrossed lines does nothing to illuminate the situation.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Harrison frowned at the mention of a lich. He'd heard stories of how magically potent they are and was in no mood to find one on this delve. When Miray asked about what they were after, Harrison perked up again. "Ideally, I'd love to find the old Imperial Palace if I could. To my knowledge, it was the epicenter of the destruction when the mountain was upended on the city. Now, whatever stood above ground is most likely pulverized beyond our ability to recover and reconstruct. What I am after is the winding dungeons and passages beneath it. Given their power and advanced technology for the time, I suspect that there must be a vault of all the Emperor's prize possessions on the palace grounds. It may yet survive."

He smiled at the thought, but then shrugged. "But in the short term, Jadzia at the Temple Below said there is a staff, wreathed in fire, that would cross our path on this delve. Its wielder might be a problem, but if it is as powerful as it sounds, it seems worthy of retrieval." He offered, curious if that was enough incentive for the short term.

Turning back to Miray, he did smile. "And I'm not against trading in the items of the fallen. We have to fund this expedition somehow. The Duke is giving us a good start, but there's no telling how long that will last."