[center][h1][b][color=af002a]Theodore Valentin[/color][/b][/h1]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/d2x4Jzk.png[/img]

[b]//A3 - The Adventurer's District, Market area[/b][/center][hr][hr]
After Theodore’s discussion with Samuel concluded, they each went separate ways. Theo didn’t bother asking the man where he stayed; when it was time to find each other, he was confident they could do so. 

The walk across the darkening city was surprisingly pleasant. Sure, part of it was the pleasure of having made a good deal. But even tired as he was, he’d always had a special fondness for the night. The stars could be seen faintly, far, far above. Had it really been from somewhere up there where the Perishing Star had descended from to slay the Thousand-Faced God?

Even those who had lived at the time gave no clear account of what had happened. Perhaps, it had been beyond mortal comprehension. After all, how could godhood or god-slaying feats be perceived or understood by mere mortals?

It did beg the question, however, whether the Perishing Star was a deity, or an anti-thesis thereof. No one worshipped it, not as far as he knew. Was it even a being, an entity in any comprehensible manner? Well, the Thousand-Faced had not necessarily been such. Yet, the god’s death had brough doom and ruin upon them. They had lost the divine, yet had gained magic.

Was magic merely the natural result of the god’s death, a concentrated blessing dispersing into a myriad of infinitesimal pieces available to any and all who but strived to harness that potential? But if it was that, wouldn’t have monsters been attracted to any mage adventurers? He’d heard of no such thing.

It was a mystery.

The monsters. The Abyss. The inexplicable draw he felt to descend into the very depths.

There’d been that one moment when Theodore had stared down, and wanted to [i]jump[/i],
Was it a premonition of things to come? Was death an inevitability? Would attaining godhood inevitably lead to him abandoning who he was, his self, his very soul?

All of that was an unknown. Whatever came, however, the urge persisted.

It stayed with him well into the new day. It would be a constant, until he died – whether that death be literal or metaphorical.

He and his followers had met up at the tower. He’d retained his spear and shield, but the others had sold their loot or else had brought their earnings. Through the night, each of them kept a portion of their earnings; one of the preventions against getting robbed.

They’d found a shabby, run-down inn. The rooms were cramped and unsanitary, and the other guests within surly or loud or too drunk to do much other than stumble around. The proprietors didn’t seem to care – as long as the minimal fee was paid, it was all good in their book. Honestly, the lodging were barely a notch above the stables. In the morning, Theo questioned if even that assessment had been correct; he was fairly certain he’d got a rash or two from bed bugs.

After a cheap, oily breakfast, Theo decided getting a [i]decent[/i] bath was in order. Apparently, there were communal washing facilities available. The group got cleaned, then they all headed to the markets together for a shopping trip.

Arnfinn was clinging to him. “Will you get hurt again today?” he asked quietly.

[color=af002a]“Hmm, well,”[/color] the dhampir absent-mindedly patted the boy's head. [color=af002a]“This is why we’re getting some gear now. That’ll help me not get hurt, or get hurt less, at least.”[/color]

The cambion pouted. “I don’t like you being hurt.”

Theodore chuckled. [color=af002a]“I know, I know. I’ll get stronger, though. Strong enough not to get hurt.”[/color] That was a promise to himself as much as it was to Arnfinn. His first day had been successful, and he was buoyantly riding the winds of good fortune. However, the previous day had had its own striking revelation.

There were other people like him out there. People like the blindfolded swordswoman. He’d warned his other followers of her. Until he had other recourses, encounters with her were preferably to be avoided.

But he couldn’t run forever. He needed power. Whether it be equipment, training, the fragments of divinity gathered from the Abyss…He’d get it [i]all[/i].

First order of things, however, was buying some adventuring equipment and supplies.