Parthia – World of The Misplaced Dungeon.

{Timeline: September / October 2018 – MD between Ch. 18 to 29}

Rickie was born to fulfil a function, but unlike just about any other dungeon's creation he was not born with an overwhelming compulsion to obey his creator. Then his creator added a coherent set of suitably faded memories culled from the children and adolescents that lived in her domain which overwrote any lingering compulsions that he retained.

Born a creature and granted, nay given full freedom and free will he was asked to serve his creator of his own will. Rickie agreed. He and his peers were rather disdainful of the tiny fraction that refused and were exiled by being taken to a nearby port and put ashore with a small purse of start up money.

He was offered a few possibilities as to how he might serve his creator and he chose to be a sailor, as that would allow him to see something of the world. His first experience of the outside world was on the Alessandrina’s Glory under Captain Tomcat. He watched with mixed feelings as Tanya, one of the unwilling was put ashore in Drakoton. The cat girl did not look back as she sauntered into the town.

During that first trip, Rickie became rather well acquainted with the System as it integrated yet another cat ‘folk into the world. His one act of rebellion was when he selected his class, he chose Enchanter. He still picked up a large raft of skills suitable for a sailor.

« Why congrats Rickie, my first Enchanter. Nice! Sorry I’ve nothin’ for you at the moment but I’ll set up a skill crystal to help you out. Go have fun. I need you to go out at least once more. »

“Thank you Mother. I’ll do what I can to help you.”

« Humph... You’ve been listnin’ to Tomcat. »

Once back in Silverton Rickie indulged in his temporary freedom and visited the Temple and the children’s dungeon to enjoy the stories. He wasn’t the only adult to do so.

Rickie enjoyed his second trip, he was able to take in the sparkling sea, wonder at the flying fish and leaping dolphins. The sun shone in a clear blue sky and Port Salvage was a shock. A fortified half city that seemed to be finally coming together.

Rickie went ashore and explored the safe part of town, he followed his shipmates into one of the local taverns where he had an ale, or rather he had a gulp and sip before leaving the mug on the table. He watched Tomcat entertain one of the local beauties for a while before looking once more at his mug. He left the tavern and meandered around for a bit. He ducked into a few shops and finally found something that interested him in one of the local pawnshops.

The place was cluttered and Rickie spotted an elderly lady watching him from behind the counter. He nodded in greeting and wandered round inspecting the contents of the shop before once again passing the simple pendant that had attracted his attention in the first place.

Rickie wandered up to the counter and addressed the woman manning the shop. “Excuse me, but could I see that pendant with the cloudy crystal that you have in the second cabinet.”

The shopkeeper went and fetched the pendant. Rickie was somewhat bemused to note that she used a key to open the flimsy looking cabinet. Rickie blessed the memories he had been given to give him the experience of growing up as he was able to haggle with the woman and so buy the pendant for something close to its apparent value. From her smile as she accepted his coin he knew he could have done better and vowed that next time...

Leaving the pawnbroker he wandered around for a bit longer before returning to his berth on the Alessandrina’s Glory.

* * *

Rickie looked up from furling the foresail and watched as they glided smoothly into the almost circular harbour behind the break in the almost continuous cliffs that served Drakoton.

Drakoton itself huddled behind its slightly dilapidated walls and the smell assaulted Rickie’s sensitive nose unpleasantly. The Alessandrina’s Glory glided smoothly up to an empty dock, a testament to Tomcat’s skill as a ship handler.

Rickie followed those of his shipmates who had liberty into the nearest tavern and once again left a full tankard of ale on behind as he left to explore the town. This time he was drawn to Jaitor’s Emporium. It was just a small stretch of wooden wall with a fancy door under a fancy sign between two larger and – gaudier – larger shops.

Feeling compelled, Rickie opened the door and ghosted in to a small, luxuriously carpeted room containing a table and four chairs. The table tingled to his nascent magic senses so he stopped next to it and tried to see its secrets.

“Nice bit of work that, even if I say so myself.”

Rickie jumped in surprise and looked up to see a middle-aged man with close cropped greying hair. “Allow me to introduce myself. Jaitor the Magnificent, proprietor of this the best emporium of enchantments in the Archipelago of Frezantel.”

“Um, where are the things you sell?”

“Locked up. They’re rare and valuable, and mostly I work to commissions. Excuse me if I seem unkind, but you don’t look like you could afford my wares. I could tell you where to find the shops of two of my former apprentices if you need something basic.”

“Sorry, I was curious. I recently chose Enchanter and...”

Jaitor smiled broadly, “Welcome to the brotherhood of enchanters. Have you registered at the Guild yet? It’s on the Central Plaza. Well actually it’s close to the Plaza.”

Rickie cocked his head to the side, “um, is that required, I’m a sailor on the Alessandrina’s Glory and won’t be here often.”

“Not required, no. However in my opinion it would be a good idea, we are not that big a guild but we are influential and are present everywhere. And if you should want to set up somewhere, well in some places it would be necessary.” Jaitor looked serious, then he snapped his fingers, “I know, just wait here for a moment, I have something you might find useful.”

Jaitor left through the rear door into what looked like a workshop and returned a few minutes later carrying a hefty looking book. “Here youngster, Basic Principles of Enchanting by yours truly, you can have it at cost and I don’t even ask you pay today, just when you can.”

Rickie accepted the tome with surprise, “and how much...”

“Two guilders,” interrupted Jaitor.

Rickie opened the book and skimmed over the first few pages. Then he closed it and passed over the requested two guilders before slipping it into the storage device Mother had given him. Then after nodding politely to Jaitor he somewhat reluctantly left the plush establishment. A few enquiries among the local passersby gave him directions to the Central Plaza. After a moment’s thought he shrugged one shoulder and headed in that direction.

He darted down an alley when his keen ears detected the sounds of a child screaming in fear. His arrival chased off the two street brats that had cornered the terrified boy. Feeling a bit lost and very uncertain Rickie tried to calm the boy. It took a while, and Rickie wasn’t sure he had succeeded or the boy had simply stopped crying through exhaustion. His clothes, now dirty, ragged and torn seemed to have originally been of good quality.

“Um, can I take you somewhere? Do you have anywhere to go? Family?”

“They killed my uncle, and auntie too. I ran away like Fraddik said. I think they killed him too. When I went back the house had been burnt down. I ran again and slept in the temple. The priests chased me out then Mar and Lask found me and they stole my coins and we struggled but they didn’t fight fair.” The boy sobbed some more then he looked up at the kneeling cat ‘folk man. “Then you came. You’re not like uncle said beastmen are... m’scared and hungry.”

Rickie sighed internally. The boy had obviously been part of a good family, or more specifically a rich family. If left on the street he probably wouldn’t last long.

“So what’s your name, or if you’re scared to say, what do you want to be called.” Rickie paused and getting no reply continued, “I’m only a common deckhand so I can’t really help you. If you’re willing to work I think I could get you taken on as a cabin boy. We carry passengers quite often and the Captain has need of well spoken people.”

“I’m Noorbat, and I’ll work if it’ll get me away from Drakoton and Far’diva and his murderers.”

So Rickie cut his liberty short and was soon talking to Tomcat.

“So he didn’t tell you who his family were, not that it matters there can’t have been many fires recently responsible for the death of a well off family. I’ll have a word with Steve and see what he says. Meanwhile tell him to keep out of sight and find something from the slops chest for him to wear. If he disobeys or chooses to go ashore... Well that absolves us of responsibility.”

* * *

On his next liberty Rickie made it to the Enchanter’s Guild. For a supposedly important guild it did not impress. The building was pokey and small and somewhat run down. The weaver’s Guild house on the same road was closer to the Plaza and dwarfed it.

Rickie pushed the door open and walked in. The room he entered was a distinct contrast to the exterior of the building. Neat, clean with a few discrete artworks hanging on the walls. The marble floor shone.

“May I help you sir?” enquired the young lady behind the desk in front of the sweeping stairs.

Rickie stopped looking round and approached the desk. “Possibly, Jaitor the Magnificent—”

The young lady snorted with amusement.

“Jaitor suggested I should join the guild as my class is enchanter.”

The receptionist placed a mid sized flat-bottomed crystal globe on her desk, “please pick it up.”

Rickie did so and it glowed softly, Raabinna examined the glow carefully. “Well that tells me that you are at least level two, more probably level three. So yes, we would recommend that you join. The fee is a pittance at your level, either two or three guilders depending.”

Rickie winced, that would leave him virtually penniless.

“So, who is your teacher? You wouldn’t have passed level one without one.”

“Mother taught me a few things.”

Two hours later, three guilders poorer and bemused at all the ritual and pomp that seemed to be involved in joining the guild Rickie headed back to his ship.