The black sigil on Dotti’s palm pulses once, then pulls toward the sealed glowing book. Its cover lifts without a touch, and preserved names stir across the pages.
The chain of witnesses rearranges itself. Magnus’s name dims, revealing a fresh trail that climbs through hidden offices and ends at an unnamed royal authority.
Veiled Figure
There is the hand behind the hand. The court preserved its title, but concealed its name beneath layers of delegated command.
The trail extends beyond the book in silver lines, crossing the judgment chamber toward a sealed arch that was not visible before. Each mark answers the sigil in Dotti’s palm.
Veiled Figure
The challenger can see you now. That mark binds your testimony to the record, and the one you seek may follow its light back to you.
Far above, Theodore remains trapped beyond the ward, separated from the buried court. Only the Veiled Figure stands beside Dotti as the arch begins to unlock.
Veiled Figure
We can pursue the trail, hide the book, or force the authority to answer. But whatever you choose, it will know the witness is moving.
✓ Quest Accepted
Force the hidden authority to answer for the command
“We need to hide the book while we find answers. I need to help my comrade upstairs also.”
SUCCESS (Great Reasoning, rolled -1)
Dotti Nightshade
Hide the book while we find answers. Then help my comrade upstairs.
Dotti closes the glowing book against her black-marked palm. The court’s silver lines fold inward, drawing the volume into a hollow beneath the judgment dais, where no crown-mark can reach it.
Veiled Figure
The record is concealed, not erased. Its names remain available to the witness, and Magnus cannot summon them.
The hidden book’s light dims to a single thread beneath the stone. That thread climbs through the chamber wall toward the ward holding Theodore, carrying the court’s authority with it.
Veiled Figure
Your companion is bound by the old crown threshold. I can loosen its claim and give him a safe path back to the upper halls.
The Veiled Figure places their sigil against the dais. Above, the ward shudders, then opens a silver passage through the buried court’s ceiling, joining Theodore’s side of the tower to the chamber.
Veiled Figure
The book is hidden, the trail remains readable, and Theodore may ascend safely. Now we can seek the unnamed authority without exposing the evidence.
✓ Quest Accepted
Bring Theodore safely back to the upper halls
“I ask the Veiled Figure to lead me to Theodore.”
SUCCESS (Good Persuasion, rolled +0)
Dotti Nightshade
Lead me to Theodore.
The Veiled Figure turns their sigil toward the silver passage. Its light bends into a clear stair, and Dotti follows as the court’s ceiling parts above them.
Veiled Figure
Stay within the silver path. It will carry us directly to the threshold that holds him.
They ascend through stone veined with witness marks. The hidden book remains beneath the dais, but the black sigil in Dotti’s palm burns sharply, spending its stored authority to keep the way open.
The passage opens into the upper chamber. Theodore stands beyond the loosened ward, one hand braced against the old gate as silver light spills around his boots.
Wolf King Theodore
Dotti. You reached me, and brought the court’s light with you. What did it cost?
Veiled Figure
Her mark paid the passage. The threshold will no longer bar you, Theodore, but the court now knows exactly where its witness stands.
Quest Complete
Bring Theodore safely back to the upper halls