The scorching sun of Wati beats down unrelentingly on the dusty streets, casting long, harsh shadows across the buildings. Amidst this sweltering heat, Indus Ionaeus sits solemnly on an old, weathered crate outside his now former apartment. His belongings, a meager collection of clothes, scrolls, and his trusty sword and whip, are packed beside him. The wide-brimmed leather hat shields his eyes, but not his thoughts, which are clouded with worry for his father.
It was several weeks ago that his father travelled to the nearby city of Teptu to pursue some obscure research lead at the local library. He had promised Indus to return with ample time to find suitable teammates for the exploration of the necropolis, but he had not been heard from since. The messengers Indus sent to Teptu to inquire about his father returned with word that he had joined an expedition headed west into the desert to explore some forgotten ruins.
A few curious onlookers pass by, their glances fleeting yet filled with a mixture of pity and curiosity. Indus fiddles absentmindedly with the simple medallion around his neck, a reminder of his father's and his own deep connection to Osirion's mysteries.
Suddenly, the clack of fine boots on stone breaks his reverie. Velriana Hypaxes, draped in the Taldan dandy’s idea of an adventurer’s outfit, approaches with a haughty air. She eyes Indus with a mix of disdain and mock sympathy.
One of the countless minor aristocrats who choke the upper echelons of Taldan society, the wizard-turned-osirionologist had wasted little time in making her disdain for her fellow countrymen known when she first encountered them in Wati.
“Ah, young Ionaeus, abandoned like an old tome in the library,” she sneers, her voice dripping with insincerity. “It's unfortunate about your father, really. Lost in his pursuits, or perhaps just lost. Such a shame.”
Indus looks up, his expression a calm mask. “Thank you for your ‘condolences’, Velriana. But my father's passion for exploration is something you of all people should understand.”
Velriana smirks, “Indeed, but unlike him, I make sure to return from my expeditions. Speaking of which, my team for the necropolis is all set. Pity you couldn’t find one in time.” With a mocking swish of her flamboyant floppy hat, she turns to leave, her laughter echoing faintly as she disappears into the bustling street.
As Indus contemplates his next move, a city guard, overhearing their conversation, approaches him. The guard is a sturdy man, his uniform coated with the ever-present desert dust.
“Excuse me, sir, I couldn’t help but overhear your situation,” the guard says, his tone respectful. “If you're still looking for a team for the necropolis, I heard that the owner of the Tooth and Hookah Inn is looking for adventurers. Might be worth checking out.”
Indus nods gratefully. “Thank you, I’ll look into it. ”
With a newfound sense of purpose, Indus gathers his belongings. He knows the path ahead is fraught with unknowns, but the prospect of adventure and the hope of finding his father rekindles a fire in his heart. As he walks towards the Tooth and Hookah Inn, the medallion around his neck glints in the sun, a silent promise of the mysteries awaiting in the shadows of the necropolis.
Perhaps luck hasn’t entirely deserted me yet. he thinks to himself.
