RP: Delving Down
It's Kesenday, Daeshen 23 10:05:47 1018. The full moon isn't up. The tide is low and rising. Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west. The wind is gusty.
Today's Spot of the Day is A04: Alexandria's Bardic College
Ga'Elian is sitting on a boulder in a grassy part of the campus, Erithamiel relaxing by his side.
Alik comes out of the music building turning a small lyre around in his hands. It is a beautifully crafted item, which he regards carefully, almost walking into Erithamiel in his distracted state. "Ah! Beg pardon, ah..." he trails off, puzzled, as he realizes he's apologizing to a griffon. It takes him a moment to connect the beast with the sil on the rock. "...sir, for disturbing."
Erithamiel swishes his tail and looks at the gnome. Ga'Elian simply says, "Thou art alright. Alk, is it? Either we've met ere now, or else thy fame precedeth thee."
Alik looks uncertain, and focuses on Ga'Elian more clearly. "Have met? Apologies again, then... cannot recall. But my fame, unlikely. Well known in Happy Valley, yes, and by some in Rune, but here? No. And, Alik, yes." He extends a hand to shake, realizes he's too short to reach the top of the boulder, turns it into an awkward wave. Then he frowns. "Do you know anything about lutes?" he asks, gesturing to the one in his hand.
Ga'Elian chuckles and points to Alik's lyre, "enough to know that that isn't one, uh, I think."
Alik looks puzzled, then looks at the lyre in his hand. He's about to say something when he seems to get it, he shakes his head and sighs. Lifting up his goggles and pinching the bridge of his nose between two fingers, he mutters "Yes. Not lute. Lyre. Lute, this is the other thing, yes? Stringed, with a neck and a backboard, for resonance?"
Ga'Elian shrugs. "I'm really not the one to ask. Hast thou just bought it?"
Alik shakes his head. "Commission, is. Family instrument of local bard, wishes magical enhancement. Which, yes, is doable, but... I know nothing of music. Enchantment, yes, music, no. Still... to make magic shoes, tailor need not be, yes?" He indicates the slippers on his feet for emphasis. "So. To make magic harp, musician need not be either."
Ga'Elian nods. "Sound reasoning, still I think a weaponsmith that knows how to wield is a more effective crafter."
"Well, yes, perhaps," Alik replies, scowling as though he doesn't appreciate being reminded of the fact. "All well and good. More efficient, faster, fewer wrong turns in design. Yes, all this. But not necessary," he emphasizes. "What of you, then? Your bow, magic? That ring of yours, certainly, yes?"
Ga'Elian looks at the ring as if he'd forgotten it was there. "Oh, you're right, of course. My bow carries a small enchantment, yes, although I am looking to improve it as gold becomes available. My ring is magical, as are my armor, quiver, lenses, and Erithamiel's armor." He thinks. "I don't think I've forgotten anything."
Ga'Elian adds, "Oh, and my belt, too."
Alik smiles. "Well equipped, you are! Is good, is good. You need more such equipment, items, armor, weapons, you come see me, eh? Alik give you good deal. And jelly donuts. On the house! Erithamiel is the griffon, yes?"
Ga'Elian nods, "Oh, yes." After a moment to think, he asks "Hast thou spent much time underground?"
Alik nods. "Fair amount, yes. Of late, especially. Why?"
Ga'Elian steps down from the boulder. "I've been focusing a lot of mine efforts of late into the hunting of demonkind, and it occurs to me that in many cases they come from beneath the earth. I figure that if I shall become more familiar with the subterranean terrain, it may help me in hunting them."
Alik nods. "Sensible. So. You seek instruction? Magic to facilitate function underground?"
Ga'Elian says, "Oh, maybe instruction, but mainly tales of underground exploits. Now I well know that bards tend to sensationalize, but 'tis in search off such stories that I came hither today."
Alik nods. "Ah. Well. Bards. Pff. They seek an exciting tale." He shrugs. "This much can tell: metal support columns and rust monsters. Bad combination. You may quote me."
Ga'Elian looks a trifle alarmed, "Oh! That's not good at all! Was anyone hurt?"
Alik nods. "Hurt, yes. Killed, yes. The monsters only, though," he adds with a proud grin. "Killed four! Golem helped. With rust monsters, you understand, must attack at range. They eat that shiny armor, yes? But crashed much of tunnels before dead. Hours, rebuilding. Filthy vermin."
Relief sweeps across Elian's features. "Well, good for thee. As monsters go, they're really not so formidable, except when one is equipped with so much metal. Heh, a druid would make short work of them."
"Yes, well. Beneath the artificer's guild, was. So much metal, we most are. And golem..." he laughs. "Well. No metal, no golem, eh?"
Ga'Elian nods with amusement. "Good point. Heh."
"Helps to fly," Alik adds. "Your griffon... he flies, underground?"
Ga'Elian looks at Erithamiel. "Yes, where there is room for him to. Over the past few days we took a trip to Dun Mordren. Even under the Mountain, the khazad build on a grand scale--ironic considering their stature. But thy point is well taken. I do realize that in the pursuit of demons, delving below the earth may require me to leave him behind from time to time."
Alik nods. "And of course, many such evil creatures cannot bear the sun's touch, so they thrive underground. Undead and such."
<OOC> Alik says, "Alik is the proud owner of a Knowledge/dungeoneering bonus of +7, so can probably chew G's pointy ears off on this topic, even if I can't. :-)"
Ga'Elian shudders, "Ick. While fiends are alien to Ea, undead are simply WRONG. A sacrilege, an unnatural blight. Fortunately, not so many of them have plagued the area lately as demons. When my bow is enhanced, it should prove more effective against most unliving foes as well as the denizens of the pit.
"Mm? What enhancement do you consider?"
Ga'Elian says, "I plan to have it consecrated as a holy weapon."
Alik nods. "Wise." He seems disappointed. Then he thinks a bit and his eyes light up. "Actually, helpful you could be... we could be, to each other. Tunnels, beneath the Artificer's Hall, I wish to explore. Make maps, you see?" He pulls a few sheets of vellum out of his binder to show the elf. "But... not safe. Protect myself, I can, but better it is not to travel alone. So... you come with? We protect each other, I map, I teach you about underground. Yes?"
Ga'Elian looks eager at the proposal. "That is a fine idea, sir. Capital, even. I have been itching to actually get down there in the thick of things, as it were. When hast thou thought to set out?"
Alik shrugs. "Is better time than present?"
Ga'Elian replies, "Not at all. Wouldst thou accept a ride to that part of the City?"
Alik nods. "I would indeed!"
Today's Spot of the Day is A12: Memorial Gardens District
Ga'Elian and Alik are flying across the City on the back of Erithamiel, Ga'Elian's griffon. About the time they reach the Memorial Gardens District, Ga'Elian brings the flying mount to a landing. He explains, "My apologies, but I need to relieve myself before we go underground."
Alik hops off the griffon with alacrity. "Is not a problem," he assures the elf. "Actually, is test I have wished to perform here for some time," he explains, removing a ball-peen hammer from his pack and walking among the bronze and marble statues, inspecting them carefully and tapping the pedestals from time to time."
Ga'Elian nods and pats the griffon on his neck before finding a convenient spot to go do his business.