Adventure Thread - Atarin's Delve

"Very good. Now about that instrument, dear...where did you find that?" Atarin asks Herja.

(OOC: No I don't think we are...)

occ - you guys found a secret door, behind which was a book, the instrument and a silver statue which you left there

Atarin chuckles "I believe a group of nobles found this cavern several decades ago and converted the catha deity into their own sex goddess - giving her a human face. I don't know why they abandoned it or why they are so opposed to me and my team digging here."

"They had been pestering me and my interns for two weeks. That's why I called for Adventurer's Guild help. They would attack my camp, scaring some of the young men. When the cathla attacked, we at first mistook them for more cultists, but whereas the cultists were just trying to scare us, the cathla were out for our blood. They slew my entire staff. Sent both cultist and archaeologist running. For some reason, the cathla are trying to capture me alive." the old man offers up while trying to keep up with the others.

"We had just began excavating the cavern before the burial chamber. We had found petrified cathla - we suspected they were victims of transmutative magics - something that had turned them to stone....I washed the statues and we were beset with them"

You make it to the mausoleum exit

"Lord Delmar is a respected noble whose influence extends to Praern. I ask that we head back to the city and allow me to bring my findings to the Archaeologist Guild. I can also authorize your payment. Hopefully, my guild will approve a new group of interns and pay you for guard services."

"I defer to your judgement, but I, quite frankly, could use a hot meal, cold pint and a warm bed." Atarin says to Esteber. He turns to Herja "If you recall where you found this flute, I would like to investigate there, I think I am nearly done in this cavern system and that you found this where I had missed it...very promising..."

The group makes its way out of the caverns and up through the mausoleum without issue. The walk home is as uneventful. When the group no longer sees the loch, tensions relax. Soon you happen upon an community well and are able to fill your waterskins and take rest, drinking some much needed water. Atarin gets a drink and also washes his face, combs his hair and starts looking a bit more academic.

You walk at a pace that suits the old man, guarding his way back to Praern. Once in town he pays you each 10gp - "Let's say it's a week earned. Now I assume you have to report to the Adventurer's Guild and tithe your findings - perhaps you found gold in that place that my team could not?" - he smiles, in reference to the flute. Please, take this - he palms Herja another 10 gold coins. Get a hot meal and a room in White Oak Square, it's a district of Praern that I find pleasant. It's mostly shops and cobblers - get yourself a pair of new boots! There's a great tavern there, the Gray Mule.

It will take me a few weeks to work out what happens next in regard to the Cathla den. I will look for you if I am allowed to return there, if you still need the work! Fairwell for now, at least, and thank you for rescuing me!"
'