《Job Arseoth - A Choose Your own Adventure》Chapter 4: Wooden Monk
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Date: Tenth of January, year 810 Post Seminal War (810 PSW)
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Job cleared his throat, butting into the conversation, “the lower archives of Varr Barak. What sort of threats could we expect? I’d hate to get your daughter killed Head Archivist.”
Innoch laughed, “there’s little worry of that. The Dwarves have cleared out most of the traps, and driven the kobolds out of the immediate caves around Varr Barak. The lower archives however, are in an area only recently declared cleared, so there may yet be a few traps or kobolds skulking about. Think of this as one of Professor Ogdyyin’s ‘Practical Exams’ with some teeth.”
Index fairly bounced on the balls of her feet, “I have been studying and practicing the works of Grandmaster Arentiloth of the Open Hand school, so I would be of no burden to the group. I also have a built in calligraphy and writing kit, useful for copying any materials too bulky or delicate to transport.”
Job nodded, “Well, if you have your father’s permission, I for one would welcome you along.”
“Daddy?” Index’s puppy-golem eyes were back, and fixed upon her father.
“Alright, I could never say no to that face, you have my permission.”
Index let out a squee of glee and hugged her father tightly, before rounding on Job and doing the same to him. She tried to pick him up and swing him around, but Job managed to stay seated with minimal effort, “Index, I think you’re overdoing it again.”
“Oh, yes, you are right.”
Erna was laughing up her sleve at the whole display, and Sly couldn’t help but grin.
Index fell to a sort of ‘parade rest’ with her hands crossed at the wrists at her waist. “I’m sorry Job.”
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“No need to be Index, I just needed to ask your father how we are all supposed to get to Varr Barak. It’s a good thirty miles away as the gull flies, and most of that woods. There’s the High Road, but that meanders a bit. We’d be two weeks walking its length.”
The Head Archivist nodded sagely, “there is also the canal, and the new steam-tugs working its length. The Mage Academy, meaning me, has already secured party for Erna and her assistants on the 7:15 pm passenger tug. That’s two hours from now and about two hours away on foot, but with the mess in the warehouse district, I don’t know if you’ll have enough time to get there.”
Sly scratched the back of her head, “I know a few shortcuts, but nothing to get around the warehouse district.”
Job grinned, “If you do not mind some back alleys and rooftops, we can make it with time to spare.”
Index tilted her head to one side in a ‘go on’ mannerism. Erna chewed her thumbnail for a moment, then shrugged and tossed her head, “what the heck, I’ve always wanted to see Trebor on foot and off the leash. Let’s go.”
Innoch tossed his hands, “you’re to meet a guide by the name of Elfyr in Varr Barak. He should meet you at the dock.”
Job stood to lead the party out, then tuned to ask a question, “are there any particular items that we are to retrieve, or…?”
Innoch shook his head, “Erna has the details, but this is largely an exploratory mission. Poke around, see what you can find, bring it back without anyone getting hurt or starting a diplomatic incident, that sort of thing.”
Job nodded, and led the way back out onto the street. “Alright, Sly and I already have our things, but does anyone else need to grab a pack before we head out?”
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Erna and Index both shook their heads in the negative. Erna had gathered her pack form behind her chair, and Index had snagged hers from behind the door.
“Good. Alright, gather ‘round my map here. We have two ways we can go…”
Making good use of his map and his intimate knowledge of Trebor’s streets, Job got the party to the tug dock with over a quarter hour to spare. Now, with two hours to kill and not much to do (aside from stay away from the dwarven crew), he mulled over who to talk to. He hasn’t seen Sly much in the past ten years, and not at all in the last four until the Fire Dance. Erna Thallia and Index are fascinating as-yet unknowns, and Job does want to learn more.
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