Saving the Archivist

-=--=--=--=--=--=--<* A14: Quill's Repose, City Library *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

         A large hallway, circular in design, is what lies beyond the large doors that let visitors in to the public library. Two guards stand in these doors at all times, employees of the city Watch, hired by the library for protection and to prevent theft of books. The head librarian is more of the same--a retired Watch member, herself: Lady Octagna is a great oruch whose lined face bears with it, as well, the scars of old battle. These days, she battles over books and the impudence of Society, Engineering, and Temple students alike, who spend long hours toiling within the Library's walls and basement.
   
         A sign above proclaims the loan of books to be illegal, and that books may not travel further than the doors. Loud noises are hushed by the Lady Octagna, whose grand stature is said to be second to none. Her movements are rarely heard, though they are often seen, marking her quite agile in her elderly age. Rumors, too, place her as a curmudgeon'd ally of Madame Gelfure, the two of them going back years, with a tradition of lunches or the occasional breakfast.
   
         The hall has marble floors, and two staircases lead upwards, one to the left and another to the right. Bright blue carpets cover the steps to lend to the quiet atmosphere of the great library. Straight ahead of the entryway, a tall archway leads into the main library, with study tables between rows and rows of books. The upper levels contain the city records to the left, and the right is a closed off area for library staff.

         The symbols of Navos, the Scribe, may be seen in the markings of columns, in the relief of marble. Marble is the prevalent building material, giving the rooms a regal, official and solemn feeling. A few benches line the walls of the circular hall, and a desk sits to the right of the entrance, a secretary always attending it to help guests, even late into the night. The occasional Seer or Temperance may also be seen, offering advisement and wisdom within the great halls.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-- Contents --=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Cesran          A tall dark-skinned man                               
Eztli           A two-toned, short, winged sith-makar.                
Harkashan       Sith with red and black scales bearing gleaming lavas
Rune            Lithe woman in dark leathers w/black hair & blue eyes

<OOC> Cesran says, "So you guys will be doing a chase scene. I'm going to be throwing out the poses, you guys will be doing the skill rolls and reacting accordingly. For each Emit I do after the intro you'll let me know which skills you can do and then roll a 1d20. If you have that skill on your skill sheet, you geta +3, if you don't, it's a straight up 1d20 roll. I'll let you know the DC you are looking to hit is a 10. If you get above a 10 you succeed and pose accordingly, if you don't you fail and pose accordingly. I'm going to keep track of how many successes you guys all get. If there is a skill you really want to do, but it's not one of the skills I've listed the DC is going to be 13. Any questions?"

<OOC> Cesran says, "I just ask that if the skill is one that I don't list, please keep is plausible, but if you have a great way to work it in let me know and I'll allow it."

<OOC> Eztli says, "gotcha!"

<OOC> Cesran says, "Don't worry if you fail, we are gonna just keep rolling on, no one gets left behind."

<OOC> Cesran says, "Any questions?"

<OOC> Rune says, "Sounds good."

<OOC> Cesran says, "Great. I'll pose the intro, feel free to give me 1 pose each and then we'll be off to the races."

The Explorer’s Guild has recently found out that the void duplicates that have been plaguing the city as of late can be defeated. The only issue is that they can be more easily defeated in the manner that they were defeated before. While the Explorer’s Guild keeps records on the adventures its members go on, they don’t keep detailed records such as this.

However, the Explorer’s Guild does know of someone that does. Self-proclaimed super-fan of adventurers, Julian Sparklespiel, once worked at the Explorer’s Guild as an assistant administrator, but was kicked out after he was caught stealing from adventurers, trying to collect souvenirs for his collection. Since then, Julian managed to get a job at the city library as an archivist, however he boasts, loudly and often, that he still collects stories and statistics of all the adventures that take place involving anyone from the Explorer’s Guild.

You’ve been tasked with going to the City Library and finding Julian, extending a personal invitation to come back to the Explorer’s Guild with all his information. It should be simple enough, but there has been rumors that some Heth cultists have also heard that Julian has information to help defeat these void duplications. These Heth cultists view the void duplicates are part of Heth’s plan to bring the world to an end and Julian’s information would prevent that. Wanting to know what information Julian has and where he keeps it, the cultists are going try to kidnap Julian.

Eztli had been pretty much non existent, of late, but finally, the sorceress had managed to get out and do something, for a change. There was still work that needed to be done in the city, after all.

She had become quite used to the library of late anyways, so it wasn't too strange to find herself back at the entrance to the building. Though the area where administrative staff resided was not an area she normally found herself in.

As a fellow collector of stories, Rune has a vested interest in Julian and the tales that he has woven, even if he does sometimes claim a few 'perks' for his efforts. Pushing her glasses up, the rogue takes a deep breath through her nose. "Mmm. I've missed the smell of books." The former scribe and daughter of an archivist, herself, grew up in halls like these.

"So, where do we think our wayward writer might be hiding?" She asks to the others, peeking towards the archway beyond. Then, curious, she tilts her head towards Eztli. "You doing alright?" Something seems a little off, there.

Harkashan is rarely far behind when Rune is around. And with her care for stories - as much as Harkashan prefers the ones told in person rather than from books - he could hardly make her do all of this on her own.

He's quiet, standing behind her, tilting his head at Eztli as well. Rune has already asked the question he wished to ask, his tail lazily swaying while keeping an eye out. "I imagine, based on the rumors about them, we start with finding his collectables. Or anything he would never be seen going without. It'll tell us if he was unexpectedly captured, or was coerced into following."

You’ve been given directions down to one of the sub-basements of the library, having traveled down a couple of flights of stairs. Here long rows of free-standing bookshelves, filled with old books that need repair or re-copying, stretch from wall to wall. Just as you make your way down to the room you hear arguing and scuffling as you see a trio of well-dressed humans, two larger individuals that look like they’ve been poured into their clothes and another slimmer person that is directing them, trying to keep a gnome with a mustache and robes restrained.

Julian spots you and he calls out, “Please help me! These are Heth cultists they want…” He cries out as one of the larger cultists strikes Julian across the face with her fist, “Shut up!” The other large cultist turns towards the slim one, “What should we do?” The slim cultist frowns and then looking on the bookshelves smile, “Give me the gnome and topple those bookshelves.”

The larger cultists hand over the dazed gnome to the slimmer one, who hefts the gnome over their shoulder. The two larger cultists each grab a bookshelf and push. It takes a moment, but the bookshelves start to topple, taking the next bookshelves with them in a domino effect. The trio heads through a door marked employee only and up a set of small stairs just past a doorway.

<OOC> Cesran says, "Okay the bookshelves are toppling, you can use Acrobatics, Athletics, Escape Artist, Crafting or Perception to get past them."

<OOC> Cesran says, "Feel free to give me those rolls"

<OOC> Eztli will use escape artist from their sheet

<OOC> Rune says, "Let's go acrobatics for Rune."

GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+3: (6)+3: 9

<OOC> Harkashan says, "Athletics."

GAME: Harkashan rolls 1d20+3: (12)+3: 15

GAME: Rune rolls +3: (19)++3: 22

<OOC> Cesran says, "Great Eztli, that's a fail, but Rune and Harkashan that's a success, feel free to pose."

"I'm not okay, Rune." Eztli replied, a slight hollowness to her voice that she did her best to make less obvious. Her robes were noticeably disheveled, as well. "Just trying, still. Perhaps in the offices, or in the main areas?" She wondered, tilting her head to one side. "Or, you can hear." The sorceress sighed, taking off for the source of the voice. While small, the makari managed to get herself stuck trying to squeeze through one of the openings between the shelves, spending much more time than expected trying to pull herself through.

Worry shows on Rune's face as she looks to Eztli, her brows drawn. "We'll talk after we find the archivist, okay?" Assuming that Eztli actually wants to talk, that is.

Then, Rune is pondering on the best way to find their target. "I wonder if we could have lured him out by putting one of Cor'lana's undergarments on a string and just dangling it around the library." Rune muses, a small smirk quirking the corner of her mouth. "Both good for both the perverts, and those interested in 'hero' collectables." This is either a fantastic idea, or a hilariously bad one, but they don't get to find out.

Instead, Rune follows the instructions further into the library, through the tall shelves. She can't help but wander her fingers over a few titles, the book-worm in her wishing they had the time to peruse a few while searching. The sound of arguing has her quickening her pace, meaning that she arrives just in time to see Julian get struck across the face, causing the rogue to wince.

"Shit, we need to go after them!" Rune hops up onto one of the falling shelves, riding it down to avoid being struck by toppling books. Then, she's off, only giving a half-glance behind her for the others.

"Let's... not. Wait... you have some of Cor'lana's underwear just sitting around in your backpack?" Harkashan gives Rune a bit of a questioning look at the suggestion. But before they can really keep going on that topic, it seems that they found their Gnome target.

Or rather, the enemies making off with the Archivist.

"On it!" Harkashan jumps right along with Rune. Normally he might have offered to help Eztli in a moment such as these, but right now they must reach their foes. "Don't let them get away!"

You make it up the stairs and find yourself maze of corridors that make up the back of the city library. At this level most of the corridors are empty except for a couple of janitors either sweeping or mopping the hallway or doing some other light maintenance work. The corridors are 10 feet wide and 10 feet tall. The walls are decorated with portraits of semi-famous historical figures that have some connection to the City Library or landscapes of faraway places, no doubt occasionally rotated around the library. The corridors are lit with sconces that contain a continual flame. The corridors are broken by doorways at irregular intervals, some of them having signs such as storage or maintenance, while others have name plates next to them, indicating that they are probably an office. A couple of the doors are opens and you can easily peer inside seeing someone hard are work, or a group of people collaborating on a project.

<OOC> Cesran says, "The skills you can use are Survival, Perception, Diplomacy or Intimidation" <OOC> Harkashan says, "Diiiiplomacy."

GAME: Harkashan rolls 1d20+3: (11)+3: 14

<OOC> Rune will go with Perception.

GAME: Rune rolls 3: (12)+3: 15

<OOC> Eztli says, "If Harks trying diplomacy, I won't sabotage it with intimidation, lol"

<OOC> Eztli says, "I'll use diplomacy"

GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+3: (10)+3: 13

<OOC> Cesran says, "Great everyone succeeds, feel free to pose."

Eztli eventually managed to squeeze her way free and continue their chase into the upper areas of the library. What she didn't realize was how many people were still working in the area. "Everyone please, stay where you are and out of the way! When it's safe to leave, do so!" The sorceress called out as she kept running through the halls, looking to find where their targets had gotten to.

Harkashan just gets a wink from his beloved in response to his question. She was most likely not being serious. Probably.

Racing up the stairs, Rune looks one way, then the other, trying to get a feel for the unfamiliar back hallways and corridors of the library. Her brows furrow, slowing ever so slightly as she steps along the hall towards some of the open doors.

Leaving the talking to others, Rune steps right on past those who are working and instead closes her eyes, listening. Multiple cultists and a dazed Gnome archivist are bound to be making a few unusual sounds. "I think they went this way!" She calls to Eztli and Harkashan, then continues on the hunt.

"For those confident - stop those men!" Harkashan calls out. He knows that some of these people must be mages or otherwise capable of stopping these people ahead of them. "Close those doors, don't let them get away! They've kidnapped Julian Sparklespiel!"

People stick their heads outside of their offices and they point you in the direction that the cultists have gone. You’ve followed the trail of the cultists, but it leads to a door that’s locked. It’s a thick wooden door that is marked with stairs across the front of it. As you try the handle it resists being opened, but gives a little, indicating that it’s probably not blocked from the other side. The lock looks like it is simple enough to pick, but also the door pins are on this side of the door so you could just take it off the hinges. Just outside the door you can hear more scuffling and muffled shouts before the sound of flesh striking flesh and a loud groan. There is some cursing and the sounds of heavy footfalls quickly ascending away from the doorway.

<OOC> Cesran says, "I'll take Disable Device, Athletics, or Crafting checks."

<OOC> Rune says, "As a rogue, must at least attempt Disable Device."

GAME: Rune rolls 3: (2)+3: 5

<OOC> Harkashan says, "Harkashan will use the power of LIZARD."

GAME: Harkashan rolls Athletics: (7)+8: 15

<OOC> Cesran says, "Still a pass"

<OOC> Harkashan (is the reason Rune doesn't unlock it... it's because Harkashan just crashes through)

<OOC> Eztli says, "I don't think I have any of those three skills lol"

<OOC> Cesran says, "Just give me a 1d20 roll then unless you can think of a good reason to use another skill"

GAME: Eztli rolls 20: (15)+20: 35

<OOC> Eztli says, "oops"

<OOC> Rune says, "Is all good, you rolled a 15, heh."

<OOC> Cesran says, "It's cool success, feel free to pose."

It was the greatest foe of any adventurer with any modicum of experience in the field: A locked door. With little time to debate how best to proceed, Eztli decided to give Rune some assistance with opening the door, as one violently clawed hand tears through the edge of the door. "Ah." The sorceress huffs, realizing here aid was unneeded as she just... reached through again to pull out the hinge pin.

Rune seems less concerned about the bystanders at the moment. Most of them are safe enough behind closed doors or cloistered away with their tasks. Continuing to lead the way down the hall, the rogue is the one to jiggle the door handle. "Crap, give me a minute." She hadn't been expecting to have to deal with locked doors when they were in a library of all places.

So, Rune is still in the process of taking out her tools when between Harkashan and Eztli, they take care of the problem while the rogue is still stuck fumbling with unpacking her toolkit. "Well..." She clears her throat. "Let's go."

Harkashan keeps coming, like a train that refuses to stop. Heavy armor and all, he's got quite the bit of momentum at this point, and there's a simple door ahead. "COMING THROUGH!" He shouts at Rune as she's kneeling down to take out her tools, shifting so that Eztli undo the hinge pin before he shoulder-checks the thing, slamming the door off of its hinges and even going into a tumble for a moment, coming out on the other side, before he keeps barreling forward without missing a step!

Past the once locked door, now destroyed door, and up the stairs you find yourself on the ground floor of the library, just on the other side of the building from the entrance. The hallway that you are in is crowded as it looks like a conference of academics has just gotten out. Robes of every color fill the hallway as the people mill about talking about the rift in the sky and what it could mean for Alexandria. You hear a multitude of different theories on how to solve it, from the extremely impractical to the outlandish practical. More important to you at the far end of the trio is making their way out of the hallway, having had the good luck of making it through the hallway before the conference let out. You can see Julian is slung over the slim cultist’s shoulder, his face puffy from having been struck repeatedly, but his hood has been drawn over his head to try to hide his current state of distress.

<OOC> Cesran says, "The skills you can use are Intimidate, Acrobatics, or Spellcraft. Or feel free to give me a good reason for another one."

GAME: Harkashan rolls Intimidation: (11)+Intimidation: 11

GAME: Harkashan rolls 1d20+3: (19)+3: 22

<OOC> Harkashan says, "(Either way, success)"

<OOC> Eztli says, "I'll try spellcraft"

GAME: Eztli rolls 1d20+3: (18)+3: 21

<OOC> Rune says, "Let's try intimidation as well, just for variety of what I'm rolling."

GAME: Rune rolls 3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)

<OOC> Cesran says, "2 success and a failure, go ahead and pose!"

Eztli had little time to ponder the sudden disappearance of the door, as she went running back through the open tunnel. But now there was a different problem in the way, that brute force wouldn't manage. Mustering up some manner of enthusiasm, forced or otherwise, Eztli shouted out over the din.

"ARCHMAGE TELAMON LUPERCYLL-ATLON IS CURRENTLY HOSTING A LECTURE ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE TEAR IN THE HALL TO THE LEFT OF HERE! He promised to speak personally to the first ten people to the lecture to answer their questions!" She shouted, hoping that it would manage to get them moving fast enough. She'd have to apologize later.

Racing through after the others, Rune is met with the crowd of academics and has to skid to a quick stop. She looks back and forth, not immediately able to spot the kidnapped Gnome at first glance. However, there is a bit of commotion nearby, which suggests that their target is somewhere beyond the sea of colorful robes.

"Hey--" Rune tries to shout over the din, but she is not the loudest voice in the hall, not by a long shot. So, she stops mid-shout and leaves it to the other two. They are far better at swaying a crowd.

"Stop right there!" Harkashan calls out to the intruders. "Drop that Gnome right this instant!" He demands with a roar in his throat that demands attention from those around them. He just hopes that it doesn't cause the people to decide they gotta leave the hall to see what's up and get in their way. "OUT OF THE WAY!"

There is a brief rush as some of the academics hurry towards the hall to get a chance to meet Archmage Telamon Lupercyll-Atlon. More flatten themselves against the wall as Harkashan calls out for people to get out of the way. When you finally can extract yourself from the hallway that was filled with lofty discussion and harebrained schemes. You can see the trio power walking across the small hall towards the main area with Julian still slung over the shoulder. To the casual observer it would just look like a parent has a small child in their arms that has had too much of the library and is all tuckered out. As you start to cross the hallway to catch up to them a man starts to walk backwards across the middle of the hall with a line of school age children following him. The children are paired up, holding hands and are looking around as they listen to the man talk about the library. The door that the children have just left shows a long line of them coming as a second teacher comes out and follows along, making sure none of their charges get out of line. There is a third teacher at the door, keeping count. You’ll have to find a way past the long line of children, before the cultists get in the way.

<OOC> Cesran says, "Skills to get past the kids are Perform, Sleight of Hand or Knowledge of Any Kind"

<OOC> Eztli says, "can I try and fly over them?"

<OOC> Cesran says, "Sure give me a fly check as you are indoors, it will be at the 10 dc cause I didn't think of that."

<OOC> Cesran says, "You can add your +3"

<OOC> Rune will Sleight of Hand.

GAME: Rune rolls 3: (14)+3: 17

GAME: Eztli rolls 20 +3: (15)+20+3: 38

<OOC> Eztli sigh

<OOC> Cesran says, "patpats success!"

<OOC> Rune hugs an Ez. (It's +roll 3)

<OOC> Harkashan says, "Can you explain how the Knowledges would help in this scenario?"

<OOC> Cesran says, "Sure, you'd be trying to distract the children by telling them tidbits of information, so they stop and pay attention to you, causing a break to form in the line allowing you to slip past."

<OOC> Harkashan says, "Sure. I'll do that."

GAME: Harkashan rolls 3: (20)+3: 23

<OOC> Cesran says, "Awesome Success!"

<OOC> Cesran says, "Go ahead and give me some poses."

Had no desire to bowl over any children in a library, scarring them for life to never seek further education. So instead, the makari took a jump over the passing group, several strong flaps of her wings carrying her above and over them, to land quickly on the other side, before resuming her chase after the kidnappers.

If it isn't one thing standing in their way, it is several dozen small things. Rune's boots squeak on the floor as she comes to a stop, seeming momentarily uncertain of what to do about the situation. Then, an idea seems to light her eyes.

"Hey kids, want to see something cool?" She calls out, hoping for a moment of distraction. The rogue pulls out some coins, holding them between her fingers. "First we have five, then four..." She waves a hand over them like magic, causing one to disappear. "Then..." With another wave of her hand, all the coins disappear.

"Huh? Where did they go?" Rune walks over to the one leading the children, tapping him on the shoulder. "Would you check your pockets?" When he does, he appears to have five coins there. The rogue grins, "Seems like your teacher has found my lost coins. And you know what that means? Treats for everyone." She pats him on the shoulder and then winks, before darting between the children and after their lost archivist.

Harkashan isn't so sure how to handle the upcoming trial of /children/ suddenly appearing. Hoping to sow some confusion, he just calls out; "In Am'shere, it is not the male Thunderlizard that does the mating dance, but instead, it is the female -- even though they form a matriarchal community!" Here's to hoping as he keeps running!

The children ooh and ahh at the sight of Eztli flying over them. Other children stand in amazement of Rune’s magic trick. Still another group immediately turn towards their teacher and start asking what a mating dance is, allowing Harkashan to slip through. He gets a dirty look from the teacher. You’ve navigated your way past the line of child and made your way to the main area of the library. Here it is quiet as librarians move about helping others and returning books to their shelves. The occasional shush can be heard as someone is a little too loud for a librarian’s liking. The cultists are close having made it halfway towards the exit hallway. The one cultist is rubbing Julian’s back playing up the fact that with his cloak on it’s easy to disguise him as a child. A librarian looks your way as you enter the main hall with a peevish look on her face as she knows your type. You are adventurers and very rarely are you quiet in the library.

<OOC> Cesran says, "The skills for this one are Stealth, Disguise, or Bluff"

<OOC> Rune says, "Stealth."

GAME: Rune rolls 3: (20)+3: 23

<OOC> Harkashan says, "I'd like to use Intimidate at the Librarian..."

<OOC> Cesran says, "Go for it. it will be at a higher dc."

<OOC> Cesran says, "Rune you got a success"

<OOC> Eztli says, "I'll try a bluff"

GAME: Eztli rolls 3: (18)+3: 21

<OOC> Cesran says, "Success!"

GAME: Harkashan rolls 1d20+3: (10)+3: 13

<OOC> Harkashan hah

<OOC> Cesran says, "Got it! Success"

<OOC> Cesran says, "go ahead and pose"

Eztli blinked, and shook her head as she was stopped yet again. The sorceress wasn't in the mood for this. "There are a bunch of people in the conference area that are incredibly angry at the fact they thought Archmage Telamon Lupercyll-Atlon was supposed to be hosting a lecture here. They need someone to clear up the situation right now, you know how people studying magical theory can be." The makari sighed.

Having spent years of her life in a library, Rune knows her way around moody librarians. Usually, the best way of not having to deal with them, is for them simply not to notice you at all.

That irritated look passes over them, and by the time the librarian looks back to where Rune had been standing, she ... simply isn't there.

There's a puff of dark shadowy smoke, but it is all that remains of the rogue. That is, until she appears again from an equally shadowy part of the library and continues to give chase once she is out of line of sight from the evil glare of the librarian.

Harkashan, being a Sith'makar, may not always grasp on the social norms of 'proper society' here within the walled cities. So when the Librarian starts to stare at him, he does what he would do in Am'shere company...

He stares right back, in the grumpiest Sith'makar stare possible...

And keeps moving.

What was up with that woman anyway?

One of the other librarians ohs at Eztli, “Thank you so much for letting me know. I’ll clear them out right away.” Rune goes unseen by any librarian that is currently on the floor. The librarian that was giving you all the stink eye suddenly finds something else to do as Harkashan gives it right back to her. She turns towards the other librarian at the desk with her, “I’m going on break.” The cultists got stopped briefly as they were just about to exit as an old woman stopped to compliment the gnome that she thought was a sleeping child. Seeing the full mustache and black eyes that have risen from the punches poor Julian took, the old woman gasps loudly, “That’s not a child!” She’s almost immediately drowned out by shushes from the nearest librarians. Realizing that the jig is up and you are close, the cultists take off in a sprint towards the exit. You probably won’t catch them on foot in time, but just off to the side you see some empty library carts that are used for returning books to the shelves that could be used to run them down. At the exit you also see a pair of guards that look like they are just returning from break, perhaps if you can quickly convince them to help and slow down the cultists so you can catch up.

<OOC> Cesran says, "This is it, last skill challenge before the end."

<OOC> Cesran says, "The skills are Ride, Acrobatics, Athletics, or Diplomacy"

<OOC> Harkashan says, "Diiiiiplomacy."

GAME: Harkashan rolls 3: (2)+3: 5

<OOC> Eztli says, "I'll try to convince the guards too!"

GAME: Eztli rolls 3: (15)+3: 18

<OOC> Cesran says, "Sorry Harkashan, that's a fail. Eztli, that's a success."

<OOC> Rune says, "We'll go Athletics to try to chuck some carts."

GAME: Rune rolls 3: (18)+3: 21

<OOC> Cesran says, "Success go ahead and pose"

Finally, out of the library Eztli could run a lot more quickly, but the kidnappers were still too far away to do anything. "Guards, those two are cultists of Heth abducting one of the library staff! Please help us to apprehend them before he gets hurt further!" She shouted to the first guards she saw on the street, pointing in the direction of the two they were after.

At the very least, it seems like some other individuals are starting to take some notice of the unusual behavior of the cultists. Either that, or they realize that there is a trio of Adventurers people through the library and there is usually a reason for that.

With it seeming as if the cultists are about to escape, Rune grabs for one of the book carts and gives it a hard shove, aiming it right in the path of the cultists. If it doesn't hit them outright, it should cause them some trouble trying to get around it, at least.

"Stop those men!" Harkashan echoes Eztli. "That's not a child they are carrying!" He roars, hoping that the Guards will do what the others have not. That is, stop these Cultists! Though he wonders if he'll get through to them.

<OOC> Cesran says, "Great job everyone! You got 17 out of a possible 21 Success. More than the 14 you needed to win. You stopped the cultists and saved Julian. I'll do the ending pose and you can each pose afterwards if you like."

Rune’s cart goes careening into one of the larger cultists and knocks him over as it takes him out at the legs. Eztli’s warning rouses the guards and they are already spring into action when Harkashan’s warning comes. The slim cultist stops and puts down Julian before they and the other large cultist raise their hands in defeat. With the cultists finally caught, and Julian rescued, although he looks a bit worse for wear. After a quick emergency healing potion he keeps on his belt, Julian will thank you profusely for saving him from whatever the cultists had in store for them. As the cultists are led away by a contingent of the city guard, they shout curses at the adventurers and promises that when Heth’s master plan is finally revealed they will rue the day. Once you explain what’s going on, Julian is overjoyed that he finally got to go on a real adventure with adventurers from the Explorer’s Guild. With the offer of being allowed to return and getting to use his extensive knowledge to help other adventurers, Julian is happy to go with you as he takes out a small notebook and starts to ask you questions so he can get your stats right, whatever those are.

With the cultists captured, Eztli had to disappear for a moment to clear up some confusion that was entirely her fault. Upon returning, the makari's prior exhaustion returned as the adrenaline faded, but listening to everyone talking brought back some modicum of energy. While she had little to say about herself, the sorceress spent no small amount of time talking about Carver, making sure she could share as much accurate information as possible, to ensure that it was committed to history as it deserved to be, even if in one small way, they would add up in time.