Gate of Memoirs/South Hall: Cellar - Start

Renatus, an artifact seeker, embarks on a journey to find an ancient tome at the behest of his pontiff uncle.
Portrait 	Dialogue
 	
*[ South Hall "Temperance" ]
Music: "Devil's Heart"	Music: "Devil's Heart"
 	
*The name's Renatus. I'm what you can call an "artifact seeker."
*Officially, anyway. I prefer to think of myself as an...opportunist.
*But if you think I'm going to sit in a stuffy old room and plot caravan routes like my father, you're sorely mistaken.
*Lady Luck must have been smiling upon me that day, letting me find that stash of ancient gold in that cave as a boy.
*Since then, there's been some kind of craze over artifacts...The holy sort, that is.
*The kind buried with saints and priests so old, nobody knows what they look like save for moth-eaten tapestries.
*Turns out that gold I found came from an ancient age, and before long, the top brass of the temple wanted to find more...
*So naturally, they came to me. And it just so turns out that my pontiff uncle was the one who wanted THIS particular item.
*Who am I to say no? He's a generous patron.
*...Kinda wish I didn't agree so quickly, but I'm sure I'll sort this situation out.
Portrait	Dialogue
 	
*Renatus: Oof!
*Renatus: Wow, the floor went under real quick.
*Renatus: Wonder if this used to be an escape route or something.
 	
*Renatus shakes out his dust-filled boots and pats his coat down.
*The narrow beam of light coming from the floor above is at least a welcome reminder that escape is only one grappling rope away.
 	
*Renatus: Well, might as well check this out, huh.
*Renatus: Who knows, maybe they keep all their artifacts down here or something.
 	
*Several dead ends later...
 	
*Renatus: Everything's caved in. What a waste of time.
*Renatus: Guess I'll head back upst—
 	
*A crisp tinkle catches his attention, and out of the dull gloom rolls a small golden coin.
*Renatus: (Gold?)
*Renatus: (Wait, no—Someone else is in here?!)
 	
*Gripping his weapon tightly, Renatus strains his senses for more sounds of movement.
*The tinkling grows slightly louder down a hidden passage, easily lost in the darkness of the caverns.
*After a short pause, another gold coin materializes with a small pop, coming to a stop at Renatus' boots.
 	
*Renatus: Did gold just *appear* out of thin air?!
*Renatus: Now this I have to see.
 	
*Renatus: ...Hope I live to tell the tale after. Ha, ha...